Another day another chapter might sneak in something special in the end, also yes I had to change Rin's backstory just a little to fit in the AC elements of the story, and the reason why I focused on Rin just a little is that I feel she doesn't really have any 'solo' storyline in the light novel beyond another member in the harem.
So here I am, sticking Rin together with the 24-hours war Raven.
As per usual, I don't own anything.
-0-
"Rin? Is that you?"
"Yep. I'm China's National Cadet, Huang Lingyin. I've come here today to declare war!" she smiled as her twin tails fluttered in the wind from the open hallway windows where all the students from classes 1-2 with personal IS peeked.
"Trying to look cool, huh? Doesn't suit you." Ichika replied before leaning to the side and seeing the assembled pilots, how on earth were they dragged into this situation? "Also how did you guys agree to this?"
He asked no one in particular but the class representative replied with a flat matter-of-fact tone while pointing to the Chinese girl. "Rin over there missed you."
"w-wha-Noa!" she sputtered with a blush turning her red like a tomato while shrieking as it ruined her 'cool' national cadet image before running her attention back to Ichika trying to salvage the situation. Still, it felt like it was directed to both her childhood friends. "Wh... Are you trying to wind me up or something?!"
'Finally, she was talking normally. What was up with that pompous speech earlier?' Ichika thought and before he could open his mouth to reply Cecilia stood up and pointed at her adding more fuel to the fire.
"And who are you to say we already lost?! Even if your class has six personal units, class 1-1 also has our own ones! Matter of fact, we have a 4th generation unit!"
"Hey!" Mayotta's objection was swiftly and wholly ignored, Ichika silently offered a sympathetic glance as his look-alike the Chinese national cadet scoffed at Cecilia's words.
"Do you really think some lucky rookie can actually stack up to our class 3 veterans!?"
Ichika only managed a dull look in her direction, before his attention snapped back to the rest of his old friends as Zina fell into a burst of raucous laughter all the while Noa slowly cradled his head in his hands and Evan mouthed out the same words Rin just said.
A declaration he quickly realized she had just made up on the spot. Unfortunately, Cecilia hadn't entirely caught up to her act.
"T-three veterans!? I've never even heard of them!" She managed to gasp out in shock. A reaction to which Rin grinned viscously at.
Her grandiose attitude returned in vengeance, Rin belted out the haughtiest laugh she could manage. Quite ironic, Ichika privately thought to himself, given who she was attempting to intimidate.
Suddenly an all too familiar clipboard made its presence known as Rin was hit square on the head with the attendance record for her impudence. Chifuyu Orimura arrived with a hallway full of corpses, massacred by Brunhilde herself whose eyes glint with a dangerous light. "Break has ended. Go back to your class."
"C-Chifuyu..." she squeaked as she held her bruised head.
"Call me Orimura here. Now go back and don't stand in the doorway. You're blocking it." before pointing outside and the absent presence on the window. "And take your friends back, just because you're the cadet representative means you are exempt from the rules, and one last thing Huang just to get her facts straight you're not even the class representative so stop trying to spread misinformation."
"I-I'm sorry..." Rin moved out of the doorway followed by footsteps echoing the hallway as the students of 1-2 returned to their class. Everyone could tell she was more than a little scared of Chifuyu, though Ichika did remember a certain Greek-Russian girl who called Chifuyu a hag and somehow survived the wrath of god.
The homeroom teacher only sighed, it was still early in the day and things already went off the rails.
"Wow, I didn't know she was an IS pilot. The first time I heard about that," Ichika blurted out.
That was a mistake.
"Ichika, who was that? Someone, you know? You looked like you knew each other."
"I-Ichika! How do you know that girl?"
the other girls in the class fired away with all their guns as well even Hari who have been sleeping through the entire ordeal woke up looking confused-
Chifuyu's attendance record silenced the gunfire. "Sit down, you idiots!"
'Hm... But why is another of my old friends here? Life is so strange.' Ichika thought not expecting to see more of his childhood friends. Looking at his side he could see Hari straighten himself out to avoid getting hit with the attendance record.
Another day of studying the IS had begun.
-0-
"Honestly Rinny, what the hell were you talking about us being veterans?" Evan asked while sucking a juice box dry in the hangar as their class waited for the teacher to begin the after-school class which usually involved students with personal IS."I mean sure we went and saw several arena matches, but that's spreading misinformation."
"I know! It's just irked me to see the other class just thinking that they already won the tournament." she threw her hands up to emphasize which caused the blue-haired teen to sigh while pinching the bridge of his nose as he let her adjust the collar of the IS suit. "Besides I don't want to lose…"
"Look, I know that you might be jealous of Alcott and Shinonono-"
"I'm not!" she snapped while stomping in place.
Evan leaned on the wall while wordlessly asking aid from Noa who only shrugged, best to let Rin run out of steam than get in her way and get run over by the metaphorical train as much as she try to claim to be a mature woman all of her childhood friends know it's a lie.
The body is sometimes more honest than the mind after all.
"Besides what are we doing anyway? I haven't seen Instructor Jarnefeldt and the break already ended….is she late?" Rin asked with a frown looking around she could see everyone here adjusting their IS suits, though she cant help but feel envious of May's body.
'Why does everyone here have such a huge…' the thought caused her to slump in defeat, even the two girls in Ichika's class are bigger than hers.
"Not really." Noa chirped in which caused the twin-tail girl to turn around to face him which distracted her from her envious thought. "Some of the teachers got called for a sudden meeting, I guess we are stuck in free time until launch, speaking of which can you still cook it?"
"My sweet and sour pork?"
"Sweet and sour pork?! Where?!" Zina suddenly appeared as she rushed to Rin's side the Chinese girl yelped as the taller girl grabbed her shoulders shaking her a little and she could swear she see some drool dripping from her mouth. "You making any?"
"N-no! Zina, please stop!"
"Oh, whoops sorry." she let go of Rin who would have fallen on the floor if not for Evan catching her by the arm, and sighed at the taller girl's antic while Rin recovers from the dizzying onslaught enough to stand on her own.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"While we wait for the teacher, so Rin, how far have you gotten with Ichika?" Zina all but grinned wolfishly as she crossed her hands leaning forward. "No doubt you still keep the same delusion dreams back when?"
"W-what?! How could you call me delusional!" Naturally, Rin gets defensive about being called delusional, the gall of her childhood friend! It's not a delusion it was a genuine plan that she have masterfully crafted all these years and would guarantee victory against anyone chasing after Ichika!
"Are you not?" Evan pointed out that without his sunglass she could see the doubt in his eyes. "So what is this grand plan of yours anyway?"
She puffed her near-nonexistent chest proudly and with one leg on a stool she explained the plan proudly and imperiously like a ruler explaining their plan to the subjects and by the time she was done everyone present there had an expression of doubt and hesitation.
That was until Zina raised her hand. "Can I say something?"
"What is it?"
"Your plan is fucking half-assed."
There was a long pause as the two boys looked at Zina who crossed her arms again. Well it was a shared sentiment that Rin's plan was indeed half-assed and hinged on a simple promise that most boys would have long forgotten
"A-eh….wait how can you say that-" Before Rin could retaliate she was shushed when Zina placed a finger on her mouth shutting her up.
"Look, I don't know what happen during lunch when I was busy spending time in the detention room but I know that barging into someone's room and demanding you trade place isn't a good idea."
"Since when are your the sensible one Zina?" the blue-haired boy sarcastically asked. "I thought that's Noa job."
"Shut it, you wannabe hero."
"So…what should I do then?"
"Take Noa with you," the platinum-blond-haired girl pointed at him with her thumb ignoring whatever protest he might have. "He should be able to mediate whatever is happening to prevent you from doing anything stupid."
"Hey! I'm not that stupid what does Noa know about a maiden's feelings anyway?!"
"I'm quite sure you have someone special don't you bird brain?"
"Shelia?" in that instant Noa shut his mouth but it was too late. There was, at that moment, a great pause. The sort that usually heralded a great disaster; a flood, a storm, or in this case, one of Rin's infamous freakouts.
It came in trickles first "Wah. How. Huh?" Before the storm.
An almighty crash rocked the Student Reps like a strike from god as she marches over him past Zina and grabbed him by the arms. Rin somehow managed to loom over him threateningly for being such a small girl.
"Answers. Now" a request, or a question. An order, Noa could only plead silently to his wayward friends. Evan bowed his head in prayers, whilst Zina sports a wolfish grin on her face.
Before Rin could shake the answer out of her childhood friend, a clipboard suddenly smacked her head with an explosion causing her to drop.
"What are you doing Lingyin?" the familiar voice of the demonic teacher Chifuyu Orimura rumbled as she loomed over the Chinese-Girl with her hands crossed, "you're the last one to leave the hangar you know."
"I-Instructor Orimura." she rubbed her head. "What are you-"
"Doing here? I'm subbing in for Fiona because she has an emergency situation." the Brundhilde explained before pointing to the launch bay as Oracle launched out of the arena. "We don't have all days so get moving."
The pair quickly called out their IS and flew out of the hangar to which Chifuyu pinched her nose, then again she cannot fault Fiona for suddenly being absent.
She is the heir to Aspina's Legacy after all.
Something that she can understand and relate to far too well.
-0-
"There you have it! Change rooms with me!"
"G-Get lost! Why would I do that?!"
It was sometime past eight in the dorms. After dinner. Normally people would use the time to rest and relax in Ichika's case he was about to make tea and trying to relax in his room when Rin suddenly came barging in followed by Noa not five minutes later who looked like he freshly came out of the shower.
Well, that and the fact his habit of sleeping shirtless still remains unbroken if not for the unzipped hoodie, Ichika cannot help but wonder how on earth he still manages to keep that habit around even back when they are a kid.
Houki naturally threw her bamboo sword at him which Rin blocked which surprised everyone in the room because she summoned the arm of her IS to which he just nodded in gratitude and plopped right beside the Japanese boy and when demanded why he is thereby Houki.
"I was about to go to sleep when I saw Rin over there planning to do something stupid." as expected of Noa the voice of reason within their small friend circle.
Speaking of the girls those two were getting off to a really bad start.
"Hey, I'm sure you don't wanna live together with a boy, Shinonono. You have to be mindful of him all the time. You just can't relax! But I don't mind all that, so I just thought we'd switch." Rin argued smugly placing her hands on her hips.
"I-I didn't say I don't want to live with him. Besides, this is between me and Ichika! This is none of your business!" Houki shot back grinding her teeth.
"Hey, don't worry. I'm a childhood friend, too-" Noa coughed reminding her that being a childhood friend does not automatically grant her the right to change rooms this suddenly.
"Why does that matter?! Im also his childhood friend."
"Well, not to Noa!"
They fought like that for a while. Neither was really listening to the other. Rin was just being herself and only focused on what she was trying to do, and Houki was being herself and was very stubborn. There was no way the discussion was going to have a happy ending. Even with Noa's imminent attempt at mediation Houki still writes him off as siding with Rin despite him declaring himself as the neutral party multiple times already.
Either way, Ichika noticed that Rin had already brought all her luggage over that is sitting on Noa's lap, but surely that wasn't the case.
"Rin," Ichika asked slowly.
"Yeah?"
"Is that all your luggage?" he pointed to the bag.
"Yeah. I just need a big travel bag and I'm good to go." she said before looking at Noa. "so what's your verdict?"
Everyone looked in his direction and find him burying his face into his palm and letting a very long sigh before looking at Rin.
"Zina was right, you are doing something stupid and impulsive."
"Hey! It's a great idea-"
"There is nothing great, have you forgotten what she told you back in the hangar?" Noa asked voice full of skepticism as his eyes bore into her knowing full well that when she set her mind to doing something it was almost impossible to dissuade her from doing it.
"Anyway, I'm gonna live here too, starting tomorrow." she ignored what Noa said which caused the mixed-race teen to palm his face in the upcoming storm at least he tried his best to which Ichika patted him several times on the back.
"L-Like hell you will! Get out! This is my room!" Houki shouted as she took a step forward.
"It's also Ichika's room, right? What's the problem?" Rin mirrored her opponent's move and looked at both boys in the room, hoping for a yes. Houki also looked at them- more like stared- hoping for support in kicking Rin back out.
"Don't make this about me," Ichika grumbled as he massaged the side of his head as it started to hurt followed by Noa.
"I'm not here to decide." after saying his piece he reached out to the soda on ichika's bed nightstand and opened it with a hiss ignoring his friend's protest. "Point is, I'm here to see this issue is settled as peacefully as possible, I don't want to get into trouble with big sis Chifuyu."
"See? So let's switch rooms and spare Noa from Chifuyu!" Rin pointed in response Noa suddenly felt a sharp pain on the side of his head mumbling something about how he regretted coming here.
"Rin…"
"Naturally it is my duty as the Cadet Representative of class 1-2 to help my class rep isn't that right?"
Noa didn't say anything after the bold statement but to look at Ichika in the eyes and wordlessly exchanged a quick word in a few blinks.
"Since when she is this responsible?"
"Inspired by you?"
"Im starting to feel a migraine build up. Im blaming this on you."
"Me?!"
Before the two could finish Rin suddenly chimed in interrupting the two as they looked at her again. "By the way, Ichika. Do you remember our promise? And don't tell him, Noa."
"Really? Now in the middle of the argument?"
As the three banter Houki cannot help but feel a twisting feeling within her chest, an all-too-familiar emotion of jealousy started to spark within her threatening to spill out but as she stays silent watching the three banter and talk, with how Ichika acts so carefree and comfortable around them….
She knows who they are and what is their relationship in the end she refused to acknowledge them.
"I don't care if the two of you are his childhood friend!" the shouted-no it was borderline ranting. "I am his first! If none of you going to get out then I'll just have to use force!"
"Hou..ki? Hey, don't d-" Ichika didn't have time to stop her. Houki had lost her cool and swung her bamboo sword at the unarmed Rin.
There was a loud noise. Bamboo cracking as the tell-tell sound of an IS partially manifesting.
"Rin, are you okay?" Ichika blurted out.
"Of course I'm okay. Thanks to Birdy that is."
Everyone thought the bamboo sword had hit her on the head, but there was something blocking it, a boxy gunmetal grey-colored IS arm blocked the attack and on his side, he can see Noa sitting up arms extended outward.
Houki was the most surprised of all of them. She was surprised at how fast Rin can bring it out when she first deflected the bamboo sword when Noa first arrived but she didn't expect that the class representative of 1-2 able to do the same. This little display demonstrated that he was a very competent fighter.
"Don't you dare of thinking to hurt my friend Shinonono," Noa warned as he raised his voice which caused Ichika and Rin to back away by a step as he never raised his voice beyond his usually soft-spoken self.
"Uhh..." The exchange had been so much of a shock that Houki regained her composure, and she looked away uncomfortably.
"I don't mind and thanks for the save." Rin really didn't care much about what Houki had done and patted Cascade Range's arm which the owner dematerialized as quickly as it appeared in a glow.
"So? What will it be?" Noa crossed his arms expecting an answer this time standing as Rin's bag was passed on to Ichika instead. It was awkward. Houki was embarrassed and said nothing. Rin grinned at me, waiting for me to say something.
'Sometimes Noa feels like a younger version of Chifuyu instead of me. Oh, right. She mentioned something about a promise.' Ichika felt as he saw how his childhood friend glared at Houki in a disappointed manner praying that she won't get into trouble with Shinkai. "Our promise, Rin?"
"Y-Yeah. You remember... Right?" her voice was hopeful as she lowered her head and gazed at me from the corner of her eyes to which Noa followed looking expectantly?! Wait what does he have to do with the promise? Not to mention how embarrassed she looked.
"Um... That thing about... When your cooking gets better you'll-"
"Y-Yeah! That!" Rin said, excitedly she would have hopped in place if not for Noa's hand on her shoulder keeping her in place.
"-Treat me to sweet-and-sour pork..." she'd promised that in grade school. Ichika was super proud of himself, though he didn't notice how dark her eyes have become and Noa was no longer holding her in place.
"What?" her voice was hollow.
"You promised you'd treat me to food once your cooking got better," Ichika repeated as he smiled proudly at himself for remembering that far back. "Man, you gotta say my memory is incredible, ri-"
Suddenly he was slapped d in the face. It was so sudden that no one in the room could process it. He blinked. Houki's eyes and his met. She also looked surprised and confused and Noa pinched the bridge of his nose knowing this would happen the second Ichika opened his mouth.
"U-Uh..." As the boy turned his head back, Rin edged into view again her shoulders were trembling, and her glare was full of anger. And what's more, there were tears in her eyes, and her lips were pressed together.
Noa on the other hand looked at him with a disappointed expression.
"U-Um... Rin..."
"You're horrible! How can you not remember your promise to a girl?! You're a disgrace to all men! I hope the dogs bite you to death!" she screamed In one swift motion, she quickly picked up her bag from the floor and grabbed Noa by the hand before running out the open door.
The door was slammed shut behind her as the pair left the room.
"Shit. I made her angry." the thought of the promise surfaced back in his mind but nothing immediately came not to mention he couldn't remember a promise so important that it would have justified such an insult.
"Ichika." he heard Houki saying his name.
"Y-Yeah, Houki?"
"I hope a horse kicks you to death."
And now Houki was angry too, for whatever reason as he picked himself up from the floor. He sighed knowing that tomorrow would be hell for him from the girls in his class asking endless questions to potentially Zina.
That girl always cared for Rin despite her nature.
He decided that enough was enough as he chose to sleep early knowing that staying up late won't do anything good whatsoever, though he cannot help but pray that tomorrow was going to fix everything.
Though he doubted it.
-0-
The next morning, Ichika found a letter in front of his door. The title said "Class League Match Schedule." The first match was against Class B, Rin instead of Noa…did he give his position in the league match for Rin?
"shit….I pissed all of them didn't I?" he asked no one in particular.
-0-
Another chapter is done, we are nearing the end of this mini-arc.
As per usual this chapter is named after an Armored Core OST this time around it's from Silent Line of the same name.
AC VI hype is through the roof with the new gameplay reveal and yes I'll try my best to include the game lore and elements here.
Till we meet again.