Hello again!

Just to say a few things, I hope everyone who reads this has a happy Christmas and a great holiday. I'm gonna be at home for most of the time so I will be able to write a lot for the next chapter for New Years. Also, I have read the reviews of the last chapter and I've gotta say a few things. I hate the current harem as they are. However, I'm not taking them out of the story and replacing them with a whole new set of girls cus that would be just boring wouldn't it.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is that the Quintessential Harem Quest will still go on with Houki, Rin, Cecilia, Charlotte and Laura. However, these characters will get their whole new series of plot and lore to fix their backgrounds and hopefully making their stories more impactful and gives a reason why I kept them in the story (Sorry about this turn of events Qhristhian, also I don't really understand any other language than English so I'm using the built in translator just to understand what you're writing).

Also, is it just me or am I one of the only few people still writing IS stories? (We need to revive this fandom, especially since we need the original story to fully finish)

Anyways, I love you all that read my stories and I hope you stay for the end, especially because I'm planning for a whole new Infinite Stratos story that maybe focuses on Phantom Task more than usual (maybe, just maybe).

- ISReaderandWriter

TEXT GUIDE:

ITALICS - Either Text Messages/Calls, Signs, Flashbacks or AI

BOLD - Machine Names or Important Text

'Single Speech Marks' - Thoughts

"Double Speech Marks" - Characters Speaking

(Brackets) - Details

[Square Brackets] - IS Talking or Displaying Information

Please note I am not the original creator of the main resources used in this story. They belong to Izuru Yumizuru, however all OCs and the lot do belong to me.

[IS Academy]

It had been a few minutes since the climax of Ichika's battle, which right now the boy in question is collapsed on the floor with a plethora of blood splatters spread around the poor Orimura. However, he wasn't alone, especially when his mentor was trying her best to patch up all of his bleeding scars using her personal IS. "Come on! Don't die on me, Ii-kun!" Tabane panicked frantically as her IS managed to patch up his gaping wounds, only for them to burst through the covers and spurt out even more of its red substance.

"Tabane-nee..." A faint voice came from the dying carcass as the genius scientist urged on with her continuous methods of healing the Orimura. However, she stopped dead in her tracks, though tears still flowed freely from the inventor's eyes. She tightly grasped his reaching hand, wiping away the flowing droplets as he tried to utter a few more words to her. "Hush, Ichika... You just need to rest right now while Tabane fixes you up."

Seeing the nod from the male pilot, she picked him up in a bridal carry as he hung unconsciously from her arms, before teleporting back to the stadium where Chloe and Maya sat by the sidelines so that the young girl could sleep peacefully.

"Oh! Shinonono-san, what happened to Ichika!?" The green-haired instructor frantically asked her idol, who right now was focused on taking Chloe and Ichika back to her laboratory as quickly as she can, even outright ignoring the worried teacher. "Um... Hello?"

Tabane still continued to keep her mouth shut, slinging the child next to Ichika's body as her IS' arms extended forward, igniting a circular layer of particles that painted the familiar greyness of her lab back in another country. Slowly patting the two as to make sure they are asleep or at least comfortable, Tabane opened up a private IS call to the acting mother of the Orimura family. "Tabane, what's happened to Ichika?"

"Not good Chi-chan. Just come here quick and I'll explain everything. Bring Houki-chan along aswell, she'll want some answers." Tabane answered in a melancholic fashion, making Chifuyu worried as she had never seen her eccentric friend act in this manner. "Hey, bring those friends of his along with you, it'll be for the best."

"Alright then, just make sure he's safe, ok?" With that, the once lively scientist closed down the call, before resuming in her lengthly efforts to keep the boy in his current state. Hearing the echoing woosh of multiple IS thrusters, she breathed a sigh of relief knowing that she had a helping hand, though paused instantaneously at the fact that she now had to explain to Chifuyu what had transpired that led to his imminent death.

Her anxiety grew further as the ground burst outwards, allowing her to see 6 different ISes clearly through the dense cloud of dust from the impact. ""Tabane! Where is he?!"" Houki and Chifuyu's voices aimed directly towards the rabbit-woman as she nervously laid the boy in question on the floor as the group moved forward out of the fog.

Rin was the first to see the extent of Ichika's damaged body, being the one who broke the fall using her scimitar blades and Ryuhou canons. Her face fell into clear despair almost immediately, followed by Houki and Laura who managed to push ahead of the rest. "No... Ichika." the younger Shinonono looked crestfallen as she continued to look at the extent of the numerous gashes and bulllet holes that plagued his body. Cecilia and Charlotte stood in silence as tears flowed from their eyes. It was clear that they were all sad. Chifuyu, on the other hand, looked unfazed to an ordinary person, but Tabane knew. Being friends with her for more than 5 years wasn't only for show. "Chi-chan, I'm sorry..."

"Don't be, the idiot got what he de-" Chifuyu's calm demeanor was rudely interrupted by both Houki and Rin, who slammed into her with full force that sent her flying towards a nearby wall, with Rin throwing a wall damaging punch into it. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S AN IDIOT!?" The rest of the group remained in silence as Rin's face contorted in a blur of grief and fury.

"Don't you ever call him an idiot. Especially when he was the only one who treated me like a friend, the one who kept my parents together when I knew their relationship was failing. Whenever I cried, he was the one who comforted me. Whenever I was bullied, he was the one who protected me. I don't care if you view him differently, but don't you ever call him an idiot. I'll agree at times he is as dense as a rock, but that's why I like him." Rin's ranting continued as the rest of his harem reflected on situations that mirrored her own experiences. "Why can't I just show that I like him? I know I've treated him like a dog, beaten the shit out of him for no reason whatsoever. I'm such an idiot."

"ENOUGH" Chifuyu's voice thrusted Rin out of her rambling along with the other's stupors as they looked towards the source, which was a sobbing Brunhilde that looked like her surface had finally cracked. "I know he's like this! I never wanted this type of life for him! Especially when our sister, Madoka, is still alive and wants him dead!" The last sentence from her piqued Houki's curiosity. "Wait, Orimura-sensei... what did you mean?"

Tabane intervened at Houki's question, knowing the backstory of the Orimuras. "Houki-chan, not now. I'll tell you about it when Chifuyu allows me to. It's a lot darker than you think." Chifuyu silently thanked the scientist as she got up from her short outburst, returning to her cold demeanor. "Tabane, take me with you. I'll let Yamada-sensei take over for the foreseeable future." Tabane's mood brightened up slightly as she understood what the Orimura meant. "Hai, Hai! Chi-chan. Gomen Houki-chan, I need to borrow Ii-kun for now... You know why don't you."

"S-s-sure Onee-san, I guess I'll see you in a few months?" Houki understood what her sister was trying to say, and decided not to rebel against it. It's for Ichika's sake after all.

"Wait! Shouldn't we at least come with you guys?" Charlotte asked the question that the four other students wanted an answer to. Laura added to it, nodding her head violently, clearly worried about the current circumstances. "Instructor! Please let us accompany you! You might need an extra group of hands."

"Me and Tabane will be fine without you guys. I'm sorry you've had to see this side of me, but I promised myself that I wouldn't show affection so openly, especially when it led to these series of events in the first place." Chifuyu waved off the girls as Tabane turned on the teleportation device within her IS, waiting eagerly for the next month that she would spend with her, Chloe, Chifuyu and her knight in shining armor. "Chi-chan! Let's get going shall we?"

"Sure Tabane... You girls focus on your studies alright? I bet Ichika wouldn't want to see you guys fail." With that, the array of dazzling white particles erased the scientist and her three passengers slowly, leaving the rest of the girls to their devices as they had to explain what had just happened.

"Um... So I guess we have to talk to Yamada-sensei? I bet she'll have a tough time teaching us now that the demon teacher is gone." Cecilia tried to lift up the morale as the rest of the girls agreed in unison as they prepared to leave, only to be stopped by one sly bluenette.

"So... What's the main harem doing here? I guess you wanted to check up on your man~" Tatenashi giggled lightly, completely unaware of the situation. The five remained quiet as they continued to leave the area of combat. Tatenashi was a visibly upset by the silent treatment, ready to slap one of them around and ask again, though hesitated as she finally recognised the crestfallen expressions on each of their faces.

'Weird, I wonder what's happened to him?'

[Dreamscape, Ichika's Perspective]

Slowly waking up from what seemed to be a thousand-year nap, I recognised the endless landscape of greenery as I groggily yawned, before smacking my lips together in satisfaction. "Huh? Why am I back here? I don't remember slee... Oh, wait. Did I die?"

Thankfully, my answer was replied with a gleeful Setsu as she leaped forward in her original silvery form as she continued to bawl buckets out of her eyes. "Nii-chan! I was so worried! Don't ever leave without telling me, please. Not after nee-san did years ago..." God I felt bad for not waking up sooner, I had to leave this cute hamster of a human crying. I pulled her squishy cheeks in a teasing fashion as I flashed her a grateful smirk.

"Thanks for worrying about me, though I'm back so there's no need to worry is there?" My thick hands patted the weeping child's silky hair, gently strokinfff the long strands in a circular motion. Slowly, Setsura was able to stifle her cries as she tried to form her words. "I-i-i just missed you nii-san... I mean, you are my only friend out here other than onee-san and Tabane-sama."

I continued to stroke her head, earning a pleased purr from the "shiro-neko", he relished in the comforting feeling as he continued to stay in their relaxing postures, gaining no effort to move away. "Hey, Setsura... How long have I been out for?" I asked the younger IS, to which she responded in a saddened manner, earning a quick answer. "3 days..."

3 days? It definitely doesn't seem that long ago... What's happened to everyone else? Is Chifuyu-nee alright? Is Tabane-nee fine? My head scrambled to remember the last moments before I passed out. But I guessed it was evident as Setsura's face beamed at me, seemingly draining away any perturbed thoughts I had.

"They're fine, in fact they're waiting for you to come back. Thing is, I can't let you go there just yet~" Setsura's voice became giddy as she reached the end of her sentence, making me even more worried for myself. "What do you mean Setsu?"

"You're using the Emperor's Cloak all wrong! I mean, I taught you for quite a while so you shouldn't be this bad... I guess we'll just have to start with the basics all over again." God I hated her training, not that I hated her as a person. It's just... the way she teaches, add on to that Byaku if I'm being honest. Sure it's hard but at least I get some good out of it.

While Setsu was debating on her next few exercises, I pondered about what Setsura meant by her statement. They're waiting for me to come back huh? Knowing Tabane-nee, she's probably using some large array of mechanical devices to replace my broken body parts. It's strange though, my body in this world is completely flesh, even better that it's fully healed, I remember Setsu telling me that my body in this world should perfectly match the physical body...

Something feels odd about it, I can't have healed myself to this extent. Even with Setsu's previous ability. I guess I should just ask her.

"Hey Setsu. Why is my body completely healed, even though I had like 100 holes in my body?" Her face paled in disgust as I brought up the subject. Seems like something happened, so I decided to ask again, with the second time recieving a worse response from the silverette.

"...third IS... bullshit we needed help..." Setsu's voice muttered very silently, though I was able to catch it.

"Setsu? What do you mean a third IS?" My puzzled question was answered almost immediately as an unfamiliar teenage woman lunged from behind me, taking me by surprise as I was pushed down to the ground with her on top.

"Ohohoho~ Is this my new master? I'm gonna have so much fun!" She shouted in a bubbly manner, snuggling against my chest like a kitten. Just who was this new woman? Oh, and Setsu looks incredibly pissed off...

"Oooh... I guess your little friend down there is quite~ lively should I say~" Her panting words shocked me as I rushed to look down to my private areas. Sure enough, the little guy set up his own flagpole right square under her crotch. "It's quite big for your age I must say sensei."

"T-t-that's enough!" I pulled her off my body as quickly as I could, earning a sulk from her as her bright-pink hair swayed from her sides. Her casual outfit made it much worse as she looked very much like a pinkette version of Ran, minus the lengthy thick twin-tails that reminded me of Rin.

"Hey, Shinonaito. Calm yourself down, you haven't even properly introduced yourself to nii-san yet!" Setsu bickered at the teenage woman, who looked infinitely more mature than her.

"Oh! Sorry about that Orimura-sama. My name is Shinonaito but just call me Shino for the sake of names. Mama said that you were a great pilot so I look forward to working together no?" Her gleeful nature echoed through her demeanor as she stuck her tongue out in a joking manner. Looks like Setsu doesn't like her, better make a note of that.

"Well... nice to meet you?" I sheepishly answered back, unsure of what to answer with. Shino giggled at my confused expression, acting like a cute little imouto that I wished I always had. Maybe Madoka would be like this if our family was somewhat normal...

Wait, who is Madoka?

[Tabane's Lab] [3 Days after IS Academy]

"Please, Ichika... don't leave me by myself here." Chifuyu lamented on her past actions, especially towards her younger brother. Oh how the mighty fall by their own actions. She sat to the side of Ichika's hospital bed, making sure to note of every single change in the boy's health, big or small. The boy himself didn't seem that bad physically, having 100% of his body healed with the help of Shinonaito, making Ichika the first person in history to be a 3-core IS pilot, which even Tabane never did before, seeing it was unnecessary to do so.

Tabane stuck herself back in her lab, with her favourite person in the world being bedridden right now, she decided to go look after Chloe, and maybe teach class 1-1 with Maya if Chifuyu doesn't come back in the next week. She felt sorry for the Brunhilde, losing a loved one was definitely a sharp stab to the heart but nothing similar to the pain Chifuyu's experiencing with the male Orimura. It reminded her of herself and Houki when their parents suddenly went missing for a few days, only to show up dead in a ditch later on.

"Mama? How are you?" Chloe entered the room, still holding on to her teddy bear Ichika won for her back at the IS festival. Her innocence radiated outwards as she spoke, giving Tabane another reason to love this childish little furball. "Hi Hi Ku-chan! I'm wonderful! Did you want anything?"

"Not really, I just wanted to ask if I can see aunt Houki, she's not really taking papa's condition well is she?" Tabane was reminded of her sister, now realising the promise she had made to her about Ichika and Chifuyu's backstory. "Ku-chan... Houki-chan's probably busy right now, but if I ask Chi-chan about something related to her, she might be able to come really quick okay?" Chloe jumped in excitement as Tabane assured the little girl. Now all she had to do was ask Chifuyu if she can.

"Chi-chan?"

"What is it Tabane? I'm still taking care of Ichika if you want to know" Chifuyu's worried voice was heard clearly through the call.

"heh... bro-con..."

"What was that you overinflated rabbit?"

"Oh nothing Chi-chan, anyways, can I bring Houki-chan over? I think it's time to finally tell her about you and Ii-kun's past."

"..." Silence entered the call like a brick wall, though was dispelled almost immediately with Chifuyu's answer.

"Alright, you can bring her over. Maybe bring Alcott, Bodewig, Dunois and Rin while you're at it. Makes it a whole lot better when I explain it just once to all of them rather than repeating it."

"Oh? You're gonna be the one to tell them? I thought you didn't want to be reminded of it?" Tabane asked her best friend, knowing the certain circumstances between the Brunhilde and her history.

"I think Ichika would want me to do this."

"Everything has to be about Ichika doesn't it? Some bro-con you are."

"You want me to come there and bash your head in?"

"No thank you, meanie."

"Alright then." Chifuyu smiled from the other side. "See you guys soon?"

"Yep yep! Very soon!" The call closed as Tabane and Chifuyu ended their conversation. "I'll be gone for just a little bit Ku-chan. I'm just bringing Aunt Houki and papa's other friends."

"Ok! Bye Bye!" Chloe's childish nature was too intoxicating for the mad scientist, forcing her to bring the girl up into a massive cuddle. Pulling away from her, Tabane took out her teleportation device as she clicked on the button.

"I'll be going then!" Tabane waved at the young girl as the familiar particles of light flashed around her until only air remained.

[IS Academy, Staff Room]

"Yamada-sensei. How's class 1-1 doing? I'm thinking it's pretty hard for you to keep up now that Orimura-sensei is taking care of personal matters involving Ichika-kun." Principal Kutsuwagi asked the bespactacled teacher, pouring out his daily mug of morning espresso. The instructor in question jumped slightly, jerking awake at the simple utterance of her name. Her pile of papers dashed to the floor as the large tower toppled over in a theatric fashion, causing Maya to sigh painfully at the added obstacle of work her students gave her. From countless test papers to requests, she was overwhelmed.

"...I guess very badly..." The principal answered, his guilt building up as he saw the hardworking teacher continued to pick up the endless papers of requests and tests. "I-it's not that bad Kutsuwagi-san. Ever since Chifuyu-san left to take care of Ichika-kun, students have been more proactive left and right, in fact I like it a bit too much for my own good." Maya laughed it off as she truly did enjoy the sounds of excitement from students every lesson. Her lively nature followed her as she waltzed out of the door, leaving the rest of the staff in the room including Juuzou Kutsuwagi in a perplexed state.

"Hm... Did she ever act like this when she was with Chifuyu-san?" Kutsuwagi asked the rest of the female teachers, seeing as he was the only male in the school bar Ichika.

"No? She always seemed nervous or hidden behind Orimura-sensei... Maybe it's cus she has the office?" Miss Franchee, a teacher from Canada responded in denial. Juuzou laughed as he understood the excitement behind the greenhead.

As the two talked, Maya was already inside her temporary office, humming herself away to some music she heard on the radio this morning. Due to this, she didn't hear a single whir of particles gathering behind her, slowly revealing the mysterious but unique scientist. "Yoohoo~ Boobs-chan!"

"Hah!?" The green-haired woman jumped out of the seat as the rest of her body laid out on the desk, plentiful posterior on full display for the bunny-girl. 'Hmmmm... Looks like she has a bountiful ass. But I must stay loyal to Chi-chan! Quit it Taba-kyun!'.

"Stop calling me that! Also why do you always have to come out of nowhere?" Maya scolded Tabane as the woman in question continued to look at some particular parts of the instructor. Maya continued ranting on, making her occasional shifts in her posture, making her bust move around in cartoonish proportions. 'Is she bigger than me? The great and all powerful Tabane?!'.

"Hey! Are you even listening?" Maya asked in a pouting manner, covering up her feminine features once she realised she was being watched. "Yeah, yeah! I'm just here to pick up Houki-chan and her friends! Me and Chi-chan thought that it would be great to let them check up on Ii-kun..." Tabane's words melted the innocent Maya, allowing her to sigh before opening her laptop to the array of student's personal cells. Clicking a few buttons issued a few calls to a certain group of girls: Charlotte Dunois, Laura Bodewig, Cecilia Alcott, Huang Lingyin, Houki Shinonono and two unfamiliar names to one Tabane Shinonono. Kanzashi and Tatenashi Sarashiki.

"Boobs-chan? Who are Tatenashi and Kanzashi?" Tabane asked the glassed teacher. "Wait, you don't know who they are? Ichika-kun's been very close with these two, more speficially Kanzashi, seeing as they have a kouhai-senpai complex between the two..." Tabane felt two things upon hearing the declaration: Happy - Her lovely instructor had an apprentice. But also worry, though she didn't know why...

"""""""Yes Yamada-sensei?""""""" Seven voices echoed through the screen as their calls went through.

"Houki-chan! I've got some news for you!" Tabane jumped at the opportunity to greet her sister.

"Nee-san?! Is Ichika alright?!" Houki's expectant response raised alarms for the rest of the group, eager to know the condition of her sweet and gentle knight. The remaining six girls perked their ears as Ichika's name was said. Tabane looked grimly at the screen, before replacing it with a clear grin. Houki knew that face, knew it very well.

"Oh? You want to talk about Ichika right now?~" Tabane's ears flopped up and down in excitement. "Ichika's been real good. Real good with his pseudo-nee-chan~".

All seven of their faces turned pale, with Houki quickly turning her face into unamusement. "Nee-san I know your joking. Seriously, how is he?".

"Muuuuuu. Houki-chan, you're so rude! Let your onee-chan have some fun!" Her pouting tone make Houki laugh as she lightened at Tabane's childish motives. The scientist seemed confused as her younger sister continued to laugh, but put it off as a sign of things repairing itself.

"Anyways, Houki-chan. Do you want to come to my laboratory with all of your friends? Ii-kun's stabilising by the looks of it." She didn't even need to go further as Houki and the rest of the participants move quicker than usual, though hesitating to run as they neared the staff area where Tabane and Maya resided.

Bursting the door open, Maya yelped in shock as 7 students piled in to the room, ready for the next stage. "Girls... Why did you have to come here?". Tabane replied with an answer almost simultaneously, as if she was trying to reveal a massive secret.

"I'm gonna teleport them from here!" Her bubbly voice warmed Houki up as she knew that Tabane was happy whenever she sounded like this. Maya stayed silent as the torrent of IS particles wrapped around the group.

"Yamada-sensei! Can you make sure to send us the work we've missed?" Charlotte piped up her studious side, earning a crowd of giggles from the rest of the gang. Maya nodded as her bewilderment skyrocketed with the new and innovative technology fizzed in delight infront of her.

A few seconds later, they were gone without a trace.

[Tabane's Lab]

A fissure of dots filled Tabane's lab as Chloe continued to play with Setsura and Byakushiki at the new GameStation 6. Hearing the sparkles and crackles from the device filled Chloe with joy as she started to run towards its source.

The first thing Houki saw, or rather felt, was a bundle of snow-white hair wrap around her waistline as Chloe embraced the kendo champion."Hi Auntie!" her beaming face overloaded the group as Kanzashi, Tatenashi and Charlotte rushed to the girl's side, adoring her child-like features. From her mini-sized height to her plump and cute face.

"Awwww~ Chloe-chan looks so cute!!!" Charlotte commented as the young silverette faced the french girl, still adamantly embracing the busty brunette. Tatenashi giggled as she fumbled with the silky-smooth hair, making circles as she rubbed her hands in it. Cecilia thought that the young girl was adorable, just being able to keep her body in check.

Rin and Laura on the other hand, were very confused. Chloe looked a bit too familiar to the two, especially on Laura's side. "Hey, Laura... Now that I've taken a good look at her, don't you think she looks a bit too much like..."

"Me? Yeah it's quite odd, but I guess the scientist has a reason for that." Laura answered Rin's curiosity, glazing over the fact that Chloe looked physically identical to the super soldier, leaving it to Tabane to explain later. However, Chloe noticed the elder silverette staring at her in a very inquisitive manner. In response, she unlatched herself from Houki's waist as she ran over to Laura, making a statement that shocked everyone, including the world-renowned Tabane.

"Nee-chan!" Her response shocked Laura as Chloe leaped towards her, tackling her down on the ground and hugging her deeply. "HAAAAAAA?!"

""""""Laura?! That's your sister?!?!"""""" The rest of the group asked the bewildered Laura as her face contorted at the fact that she even had a younger sister. "Nein! I don't know who this is!"

Chloe pouted as she understood her nee-san's words. Tears struggling to be contained emerged from her eyes, making Laura feel even worse than before. Reluctantly, she sighed as she moved her hand onto the young girl's head, stroking the very familiar silver locks that felt incredibly smooth. 'Did I ever have a younger sister?'.

"Ano... I thought all of you wanted to check up on Ii-kun?" Tabane tilted her head slightly, showing off that quizical manner that made her all the more childish and adorable. The rest of the group snapped out of their confusion as Tabane walked out of her first laboratory (more like a teleportation hub), making very bunny-like strides towards her temporary infirmary. Houki led the rest of the group as she followed her older sister, taking a note of the drastic changes in cleanliness between rooms. Stacks of mushy goo in one room to shining surfaces in another. "Nee-san, what's with the differences in rooms?".

"Ah... I... don't know how to clean properly." Tabane's mechanical ears drooped as she accepted the harsh reality. All Houki could do was sigh as she realised the pitiful state that her sister lived in. They moved on though, with Houki taking note of the slight but noticeable change in the hidden celebrity.

Infirmary. The place of Ichika's current dwelling, the rest of the girls firmed their hearts as they prepared for whatever state the poor boy was in. Tabane knocked on the door lightly, letting Chifuyu know they were ready to enter. Slowly opening the door, the group could clearly see deep bags formed under Chifuyu's eyes, threatening her light smile as she welcomed them in. It was different.

"Hi Chi-chan. You don't look so good." Chifuyu laughed at the last statement.

"Coming from you... That's a first." She ushered the rest of the group in as she closed the door behind them, patting Chloe on her head as she walked in with Laura. The rest of the group walked past the curtain that kept Ichika from the rest of the room, slowly earning shocked faces as they saw the numerous tubes and respirators that kept the boy alive. His left hand was sealed in a tube with some unknown blue liquid, slowly patching up the remaining skin layers from the damage from Autumn's Arachne.

Beep* Beep*

"Ichika..." Rin looked crestfallen as she looked over again at the tattered body of Ichika Orimura. Laura rushed to his side as she noticed a bit too much condensation forming on his mask. Cecilia and Charlotte broke into tears as they realised the state that he was in. Houki lamented. Whilst Kanzashi and Tatenashi looked grimly at the boy, Houki decided to ask her sister and Chifuyu about what they talked about before.

"Nee-san? I know this might seem weird, but what did Orimura-sensei mean when she talked about a younger sister wanting him dead?" The two elder women sighed as they were forced to explain the Brunhilde's story. "I guess it's time, isn't it Chi-chan?"

"Yes... Just for clarification, nothing is to be said of what I tell you here, understood?" The group of 7, plus Chloe, agreed to her demand as she pulled out her locket stored in her IS's space. "Me and Ichika were born into a world of blood. Our parents, who are now dead thanks to me, experimented on three people. Me, Ichika and our imouto, Madoka. She's the twin of Ichika, but is a few minutes younger. During the experiments, me and Madoka gained ridiculously strong attributes, seeing that I can take on an IS without using one myself. However, Ichika didn't grow from this, keeping his innocent and childlike nature throughout numerous experiments and torture to build up his murdering capability. Furthermore, Phantom Task used the three of us, mainly me and Madoka, as errand girls for their plots. From assassinating leaders to seizing control of governments." The rest of the group's faces remained grim as the Orimura continued on with their backstory.

"Through the years, me and Madoka were manipulated to hate Ichika, being the outlier of the project. Thing is, Ichika never stopped being who he was, continuing to act all innocent and childish with me and Madoka, and it grew on me. So much to the point that I killed our own parents and fought Madoka to keep Ichika away from the organisation's grubby hands." Charlotte and Laura were shocked. They thought that they had horrible parents, but Ichika's trumped theirs by millennia. Tabane shuffled her body closer to itself, which went by everyone except the Brunhilde. "Tabane, what's wrong?"

"Oh! N-n-nothing! Yeah, nothing..." This action piqued the group's interest, seeing that none of them had seen her like this, including Houki. "Nee-san, there's definitely something wrong. You can tell us." Houki's questioning words pressed on Tabane's mind continuously, forming a drill in her head.

"Seriously! It's nothing!" The worried tone in Tabane's voice left the two closest people confused. But they decided to let it go, giving Tabane a shril sigh of relief. 'It would have been bad if I told them about that '. Houki and the rest of the ISA students huddled around the boy next to Chifuyu, settling themselves into a somber state knowing Ichika was in a critical condition.

Rising from her gloom, Chifuyu stood up from her chair as she walked to leave the room. "Tabane, where's the training rooms?" Her calm and condescending voice confused the poor rabbit, whose mechanical ears perked up. "They're on the left from the hall... Why?". Chifuyu smirked as she opened the door.

"I'm gonna train while he's out. If any one of you want to join, I'll gladly tutor you." She paused as she turned around to the seven. "But just so you'll know, I'll stop holding back. Just for his sake." Houki and the rest felt shivers as she said the last phrase, but they already steeled their hearts, especially for the one they truly love. Tatenashi was the first one to follow the Brunhilde, followed by her sister and then the rest. Tabane remained with Chloe, thinking in her head what to tell the elder Orimura about the new IS she put inside the boy. 'Hopefully that IS doesn't wipe his current memories...'

Meanwhile, a certain tenacious boy worked hard, training for his return.

[Back in the Dreamscape]

"AGAIN!" Setsura's comandeering tone echoed through the vast greenlands as two Byakushikis swung against each other at breakneck speeds. Ichika could barely hold on as the opposing IS swung at a blur, only managing to block at the last nanosecond as the cyan-blue Yukihira hummed in menacing greed. "Gah!"

"Come on Ichika-san, it's taking me barely anything while you're in the Emperor's Cloak and still struggling to fight back." Byakushiki's jeering tongue angered the boy, who recklessly pushed forward his electron-blue cloak against the blade. Slowly by slowly, the energy from the blade slowly fizzed out as the veil devoured its shield energy. "YOU'RE MINE!"

"Sloppy" She slid underneath the boy, slicing upwards at the opening that he made from his rash counter. His remaining 360 points sapped away as he was flung up 15 feet into the air. As he collided with the earth, the large crater left behind left him struggling to move around. Byakushiki moved closer to the landing zone, hovering just a few inches from the dust cloud.

Suddenly, Ichika's mechanical arm reached out of the dust cloud, moving in a panicked motion towards Byakushiki. Sadly, he never made contact as she activated Reiraku Byakuya and swung her blade down, cutting off the rest of his shield points and activating his Absolute Defence. "DAMMIT!"

"You're wayyy too slow with your swings! You keep on making unnecessary movements that slow down your reaction time, allowing your enemy to respond to weak points in your attacks." Setsura chided at the boy as Shino rushed to the boy's aid, in a completely new IS, different to the boy's one altogether.

"Ichika-sama, are you alright?" Her worried expressions morphed continuously as her IS went to work at repairing the dents and cracks in Ichika's Byakushiki. His face contorted slightly at the pain as small rays of particles slid underneath the armor, sparking underneath to repair the damaged nodes.

Once she was done, the boy stood up as he winced at every movement. He thanked the new girl, walking towards the two mentors in prideful strides as Shino followed him. The two women conversed with each other about Ichika's training, with Setsura suggesting a more practical approach. "Maybe we should ask Chifuyu-san if she could help with Ichika's training?"

"Remember, imouto, he is doing this for his sister. It's counter-intuitive if she is the one teaching him." Byakushiki shut her idea down as she knew the inferiority complex the boy had. "I think it's better if we solve this by changing his goal."

"What do you mean onee-san?" Setsura looked confused as the two continued to close the large gap between the ISes of Byakushiki. "Look, Setsura, personally I think that Ichika-san's goal of getting stronger in order to protect those he loves? Personally, I think it's bullshit. I don't trust those girls, they're too rash when he's around. They treat him like a pet, fighting over him without any of his input. It doesn't seem right for him..." Setsura dwelled on Byakushiki's words, reminiscing on all the times Ichika's seven pulled guns, katanas and even canons on the poor boy, all for the sake of protecting their own pitiful pride.

"You know, nee-san... I don't think it's like that. Ever since we were released to the world by mama, society's changed. I've seen the movies, with men being the close superior race, with women following close behind. Now, it's all gone to this, with women protecting their power by pushing men down under them. However, even if they are this bitchy about life, we can't just leave them! Women and men are supposed to work together, not fight each other..." Setsura argued back, reasoning with Ichika's own reasons for his goal.

"Look, Setsura, I'm not saying that we should cut out his loved ones. All I'm trying to say is that he must overcome the basic "I want to get stronger to save those that I love" type of motivation. If he wants to get stronger, then protecting his loved ones must come as a side goal." Byakushiki and Setsura continued to discuss the topic, with Ichika and Shino deciding to stop midway to talk about each other whilst looking out into the vast and lush greenery.

"Hey, Shino-chan, why did Tabane-nee put you into my IS? I knew that I could have four IS cores in my machine, but I don't think it's really necessary." Ichika asked the pinkette, who looked at him pensively before talking. "You sure you want to know? Because mama told me to give this to you when the time is right." The boy nodded at her question, looking more serious than he ever was.

Reluctantly, she took out a small flash drive from her IS space and handed it to him. It looked fresh, seemingly made only a few days ago. Ichika took the small device before inserting it into his bleached-white gauntlet. It flashed slowly, before opening a small hologram. Within it, Tabane sat in front of her workbench, with what seemed to be Shinonaito's IS core. Judging by her puffy eyes she had been crying for a while, and heavily too. Without pressing the screen, the video started to play.

"Hi Ii-kun, if you're watching this, then you should have met Shino-chan by now. With all these varying events that are happening, you've been struggling to protect Chi-chan, Houki-chan and all your friends."

She paused for a second as she looked at the sphere, glowing in turbulent pink streaks.

"That's why I've decided to give you a second IS..."

I just want to say sorry for me taking so long, with all these exams and additional revision, I've been struggling to get this chapter out. I kept on forgetting where the plot went since I haven't made a dedicated plan for this Fanfic.

To be even more honest, I haven't even moved to chapter 3 for IS: Fixed Friendships and Bonds.

However, I will push through this and once this is all over, I'll probably be posting chapters in my dedicated 1 chapter per 8-9 days.

Anyways, thanks for reading!

-ISReaderandWriter