I do not own Infinite Stratos nor do I own Rurouni Kenshin. All rights respectively go to Izuru Yumizuru, the author who created Infinite Stratos, and Nobuhiro Watsuki, the author of Rurouni Kenshin.
Class was at the arena for some practical lessons of the IS. Everyone was lined up in alphabetical order and Raiden was in the front and middle of the entire class.
"For today, we will teach you the basics of IS flight capability and maneuverability," said Chifuyu as she approached the class. She then called out to three of the Personal IS pilots.
"Orimura. Alcott. Hataru. Try flying with your IS."
Cecilia and Raiden immediately summoned their IS and were ready.
For Ichika however, it took a little longer than usual to summon his IS, partly because he was amazed of Raiden's Personal IS and got distracted by it. But also because when he summoned it, he was using his voice to activate it."
"You idiot. You should be able to call the IS forth without having to use voice command."
"Sorry," flinched Ichika.
Chifuyu then turned to the three and commanded, "Now fly!"
Cecilia took off first, followed by Raiden, and then by Ichika who had a little bit of trouble of taking off before he managed to catch up. Cecilia took the lead with Raiden in the middle and Ichika behind him.
"You're too slow," said Chifuyu to Ichika. "Spec-wise, Byakushiki is faster than Lion Heart and Blue Tears combined."
"But…" said Ichika. "I'm supposed to imagine a pyramid in front of me, aren't I?" Ichika then slumped a little and sighed. "I don't really get it."
"Imagining is nothing more than imagining, no matter the case," said Cecilia as Ichika looked up and caught up with the other two. "It's more constructive for you to work on finding a method that works for you."
"Well said, Cecilia-dono," said Raiden as he nods in agreement.
"Firstly, I don't have a good handle on flying." Ichika said. "How is this thing floating in the air to begin with?" Ichika looked at his left claw.
"Think of it as piloting an aircraft, Ichika," said Raiden. "Stick some wings and a powerful engine along with adjusting to the right thrust and you got either a bird, a plane, or an IS flying in the skies."
"Is that so?" Ichika still did not get it, but Raiden was patient. After all, compared to him who had no problem adjusting to the new life, Ichika was already struggling. He couldn't blame him after all.
"Um, if you would like, I can give you lectures after school's out," said Cecilia causing Ichika to look at her in confusion. "At that time, we can-"
"Orimura. Alcott. Hataru," called Chifuyu on the comm. "Do a dive followed by a rapid stop."
"Got it," said Raiden.
"I'll go ahead," said Cecilia as she dove to the ground before stopping completely with just inches off the ground.
"Meet you at the ground," said Raiden as he flew a little higher up before plummeting back down.
Some people thought he was going a bit too fast but, with the right timing, he pulled to a stop via power sliding across the dirt floor without making a trench. But he did kick up one hell of a dust storm in the process.
However, Raiden was totally unaware that Ichika was coming down fast. Way too fast.
"Raiden, watch out!" Ichika cried.
Raiden could turn around yet the sight of Ichika coming towards him made him echo only one iconic word.
"Oro?"
*CRASH*
As he immediately crashed into Raiden who had turn around too late to see Ichika crash into him and the two boys ended up in a crater.
(Insert OP: A Cruel Angel's Thesis by Yoko Takahashi)
Zankoku na tenshi no you ni (After a drop of water hits the black screen, it brightens up to a red sky with clouds and stars as it shows the IS Academy symbol)
Shounen yo, shinwa ni nare... (Camera pans upwards as it shows the schematics of an Infinite Stratos before it shows its heart, the IS Core and then everything tuns white)
(Title of the show appears as Infinite Stratos)
Aoi kaze ga ima mune no doa wo tataitemo (Raiden is shown fully clothed and carrying the Sakabatō on his left hip)
Watashi dake wo tada mitsumete (As he watches the waters surrounding the IS Academy Island, the shadowy silhouettes of Akane Fujimoto and Miram Walker appear at the side of the screen going up and down respectively)
Hohoenderu Anata (As the silhouettes fade away, Raiden gives a small smile as if content with something of his life)
Sotto Fureru mono (A shadowy hand is shown pointing to the ground before an IS blueprint of Akatsubaki appears)
Motomeru koto ni muchuu de, (And then Houki is shown next as her image looks up at the sky)
Unmei sae mada shiranai itaike na hitomi (Houki's shadowy image sits on the ground with her arms around her knees as if crying before she looks up while Raiden is in the background and then Houki's image is replaced with that of Tabane, staring out of a window and her eyes blinking twice)
Dakedo itsuka kizuku deshou Sono senaka ni wa (Raiden is seen in his IS, looking upwards as he prepares himself for a fight, embracing his persona of Hitokiri Kingslayer. Four brief images of Hiko Seijuro XVIII, Akane Fujimoto, Miriam Walker, and Chifuyu Orimura are shown in order)Haruka mirai mezasu tame no hane ga aru koto... (Raiden cannot contain the darkness he kept within himself any longer as Hitokiri Kingslayer emerges and the background is shrouded in flames of Kyoto)
Zankoku na tenshi no tēze (Ichika duels with Raiden, clashing his blade, Yukihira Nigata, against Raiden's Sakabatō, fighting on even ground)
Madobe kara yagate tobitatsu (Raiden and Ichika break away as Rin comes in to assist the latter against the former with her Souten Gagetsu. Brief images of the various cast of IS, including students of the Academy, Liu King-Sang and members of the Righteousness Union, and members of FEISAR, are shown in quick timeframes)
Hotobashiru atsui patosu de (Laura was next as she unleashes her cables at Hitokiri Kingslayer, but he dodges in the air and attempts to cut her down but is blocked by Charlotte's shield)
Omoide wo uragiru nara (Raiden backs away as Cecilia unleashes heavy firing onto Raiden, making him move and slice down her BIT drones. Brief images of the various cast of IS, mainly the main antagonists are shown in quick timeframes, in order of Udo Hina, Squall Meusel, Autumn, Madoka Orimura, and the shadowy form of the Dark Lady)
Kono sora wo daite kagayaku (Raiden in his IS takes a Battojutsu stance and charges forward as executes a Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu attack)
Shounen yo, shinwa ni nare (As Raiden comes in and slices at the camera, everything flashes white as the title of the story, Infinite Stratos Hitokiri Kingslayer, comes up on screen)
Once the smoke and dust had cleared, Ichika was on top of Raiden, the two boys still in there IS, and groaning in pain. Chifuyu, Houki, and Maya arrived at the crater's edge to check on them.
Turns out Raiden was in a daze, used as a cushion to slow down Ichika's crash and make him take the full impact.
"Orroroooo…" Raiden was on his back in a daze, with swirling eyes and stars around his head.
Chifuyu yelled from above. "Orimura, were you trying to make a hole in the ground by using your classmate as a cushion?"
Ichika couldn't find the words to respond and merely apologized. "Sorry."
"Ichika, I thought I taught you better than that," said Houki. "How do you expect to pilot an IS when you can't—"
She was then pushed out of the way by a desperate Cecilia who jumped and slid down into the crater, kneeling at Ichika's side.
"Ichika-san, are you alright?" asked Cecilia as she went over to Ichika.
Ichika, startled, answered "Y-Yeah. I'm fine."
Cecilia then turned back to Ichika and said "I'm glad to hear you're unhurt. Oh, but you should visit the infirmary just in case. If you would like, I'll take you-"
"That isn't necessary," said Houki as she draped one of Raiden's arms over herself for him to stand up. "His IS protected him from the fall anyway."
"Oh, Shinonono-san. It's only natural to worry about others," said Cecilia.
"I can't believe that's coming from you, you thieving cat," replied Houki, not buying that fact since Cecilia was the one who challenged Ichika to an IS duel.
"It's better than a fox wearing a demon's mask," retorted Cecilia, making the two girls stare closely at each other.
"Why can't these two get along at all?" asked Ichika to himself.
Raiden could only remain dazed, saying "Ororo" as the two girls were looking like they were getting ready for a fight while being supported by Houki.
"Congratulations, Orimura-kun! Cheers!"
Pops from the party poppers were heard all over the mess hall as they all went off and confetti covered much of the floor. Behind Ichika was a sign that said CONGRATULATIONS in big letters. While Ichika found it flattering and nice, that was not his only concern. Because now he had to deal with a familiar blonde girl who was sitting next to him. And Houki sat right next to him on the other side, with Raiden sitting with her.
"Well, this is unexpected, that it is," Raiden said.
Ichika agreed, rubbing his head embarrassingly. "I agree. It's still a bit embarrassing to be the center of attention."
"Well, aren't you Mr. Popular," Houki said with sarcasm.
"You think so?"
Houki doesn't answer, merely giving a cold Hmph in response before taking a sip of her drink.
"Orimura-kun," called one of the classmates who was wearing glasses and had a camera. "My name is Kaoruko Mayuzumi. The Newspaper Club would like to hear of your opinion regarding the duel. Would you mind answering a few questions for us?"
Ichika stuttered "S-Sure. If you think it will help you."
"Okay, first question. What are your thoughts on being the representative of our class?"
"Well… I'll do my best."
"Huh? Oh, c'mon! Give us something awesome - like, like 'don't get too close to me, or you'll get hurt' or something like that!"
"Well uh…" Ichika drifted off and was at a loss of words. Already, too many questions roamed in his head about the current situation.
However, that's when he had a crucial question to ask. "Hang on. Raiden, you won that duel. So why are you passing the title to me?"
Raiden simply states. "Let's just say that I am not interested in the position of class representative, that I am not."
"Ehh that's all?" asked Kaoruko. "Shouldn't you say something in regards to your actions?"
"That's all I got to say," Raiden said. Truth be told he already has a title latched onto himself. And he'd rather not talk about it in front of everyone. It's a title only he and Chifuyu know of.
"What about having Cecilia say a few words?"
"I don't really like giving interviews, but I suppose I must," said the British girl.
Though she's grumbling, she doesn't look bothered... and she's already standing over there, ready to go!
"Ahem. First, I, Cecilia Alcott, the former class representative, will make a statement. It was…"
"Ahh, if this is going to take a while, just forget it. How about I just take a photo?"
"You…you… What will you print if you don't hear my eloquent statement?"
"It's no problem; I'll just make up some content. For instance, let's assume that you like Orimura-kun."
"Wha, wha, what...?"
Cecilia's face went from normal to blushing bright red in about .001 seconds. Now she's definitely angry. Ichika better find some cover before Mount Cecilia erupts.
"What's this nonsense you're spouting?"
"Seriously! Your secret love for Orimura-kun? That would be a great scoop!"
"Well, what's wrong with just taking my statement?"
Um... what did I do wrong? Cecilia why are you glaring at me? Stop that! It's scary.
"Ba-Basically, you…"
"Okay okay, forget it. Both of you, please stand together! I'm going to take your picture."
"What?"
Cecilia sounded rather surprised, but she also seemed delighted.
"Yeah! Everyone's interested in your personal ISs! So, let me take a photo of both of you. Um… maybe you should shake hands or something, too!"
"Oh, is that… that so...?" For some reason, Cecilia's starting to fidget and keeps peeking at Ichika.
"Excuse me, but you'll give me a copy of the photo, right?" Cecilia asked.
"Oh, sure, I can do that."
"Then let me go change my clothes first…"
"No way, that'll take too much time! C'mon, hurry up and stand together."
Mayuzumi–senpai grabbed Cecilia's hand and pulled her next to him, and then made them hold hands. What a hard-nosed senpai.
She snapped the picture with her digital camera. Unfortunately…
"Why is everyone squeezing into MY picture!?" yelled a pouty Cecilia.
"Don't think you are getting ahead of us, Cecilia," said one girl.
"Well, well, well couldn't let ya get a head start, Cecilia…"
"It was a good picture in any case," Kaoroku said. "Thanks, Orimura-kun."
As the party continues getting more rowdy, Ichika was sheepishly laughing while Cecilia pouts. The only ones staying silent on this were Raiden and Houki, who were also part of the picture.
"I suppose we're all going to get copies of the picture, that we are," Raiden said.
"Yeah…" Houki grumbled, drinking as she looks at Ichika. Even though she grumbles at the prospect of her childhood friend being popular, strangely enough, she found herself okay around Raiden. Then again, she didn't mind being around a fellow samurai.
The next day dawned in as Raiden, Ichika, and Houki walked together from the dorms to their classroom. Houki kept her eye on Raiden, still trying to assess the blind samurai and wondering how he can walk in a perfectly straight line without even using a cane or a walker to determine where he was going. Any ordinary person would use something like that, or even a guide dog, but pets are not allowed on Academy grounds. Not even service or therapy dogs.
As the three walked to the classroom, Ichika spotted someone with a black Yamaha YZF-R1M by the building.
"Hey, Raiden! Over here!" The woman cried.
"Raiden, do you know that woman out there?" He asked.
Raiden looks in the direction of the voice, yet he recognizes the presence. Smiling a bit, Raiden turns to Ichika and says "Ichika, can you take Houki-dono with you and go on without me?"
Ichika gives a perplexed look before he acknowledges "Huh? S-Sure..."
Ichika and Houki walk on, yet the pony-tailed girl couldn't help but feel a little ticked off about the woman. She was wondering why Raiden would be going to meet her yet pushed the thought aside and joined Ichika to their classroom.
Raiden walks out to the woman who was leaning on what appeared to be a Yamaha YZF-R1M. She was a tall and attractive woman who usually wore her dark-blue hair in a ponytail and dark-blue eyes. Her usual attire consisted of an A-shirt that is white at the piece at the back of her neck to the top of her breasts. She also wore black pants and black boots. She has been seen wearing her blue jacket over her shoulders.
Whilst smoking a cigarette, she greets Raiden casually and happily, "Yo. Enjoying your life here at school?"
"More or less," answered Raiden. "How did you get here anyway, Akane? This place is prohibited to the public, that it is."
"As your caretaker, I got clearance to get into this place."
"Is that so?" asked Raiden. "Most people wouldn't just let anyone in."
"I'm not like most people, Raiden," Akane said as she approaches Raiden, with cigarette in hand. "Miri asked me to check in on you. That old bloke was getting a bit worried you had not adjusted your life here, but it seems you've gotten the hang of it."
"Well, I did just have my first IS duel, between a British noble who issued the challenge and Chifuyu Orimura's little brother."
"Oh yeah?" Akane takes a puff. "Now that I would have liked to see."
"Why's that?"
"Come on now. You know why. With Chi looking after you, maybe I can finally head to Omega and get myself a decent job there."
"You retired from the CIA, Akane?" asked Raiden.
"Discharged honorably," Akane said. "Which is basically the brass saying I'm no longer needed. Miri is still there though. Word is she is reaching the rank of deputy director. Still keeps tabs on me though, the nosy woman she is. And apparently she wants me to relay to you to call you an idiot for walking 200 kilometers to the tram station and nearly ending up in police custody because you had a sword."
"Now I kind of understand why she can be a pain in the ass sometimes, that she can be," Raiden remarked.
"You said it," Akane takes another puff of her cigarette before tossing it away. "Well, I gotta get moving before I overstay my welcome. Take care of yourself, kid."
"Yeah. You too, Akane."
But before Akane could even put her helmet on, she felt a familiar presence nearby. One she had not felt for years.
"Hataru!" A voice called out from behind Raiden, revealing to be Chifuyu. "What are you doing there? You were supposed to be in class one hour ago—"
But that is when Chifuyu stops talking when she suddenly spots someone by Raiden. And almost immediately, shock and anger quickly take over her. She hastily rushes over to Raiden, apparently dropping her clipboard on purpose and cracking her knuckles a bit.
"You…" She said.
"Oh, hey there, Chi," Akane greets with a smirk before she walks forward and holds out a hand. "Been a long time, huh?"
Chifuyu extends out a hand. "Indeed it has."
Suddenly, eyes sharpen and lightning sparks.
*BAM*
In that moment, Akane just blocked a one inch punch from Chifuyu's right fist, catching it with her right fist and holding it back. Raiden steps back a bit, seeing that a possible fight between two women was about to go down.
"Quite the cold greeting after 10 years," Akane smirks.
Chifuyu however was not in a mood. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Checking in, of course," Akane replied. "I needed to be sure Raiden was doing well under your care."
"You stay out of this, lest you want to do this the hard way."
"Do it the hard way, huh? Aren't you already doing that right now?"
The grip tightens on Chifuyu's fist by Akane while the Brunhilde clenches her other fist, readying and tempting a left hook to the temple.
Akane takes notice. "Come on now, Chi. With all these cameras around your school, you wouldn't want to do anything to cause havoc here, right?"
Chifuyu did not deny that. Indeed, as a teacher and as Brunhilde, she has a reputation to uphold. But she could care less about that in this moment. However, if there was anyone watching this scene unfold from inside the Academy grounds, rumors may spread to both teacher and staff. And it will go badly.
For now though, she has to abide by the rules.
Standing down, she takes her fist away and releases it.
"Good seeing you again, Chi," Akane walks off and puts her helmet on before getting on her motorcycle. "Take care of Raiden, yeah?"
And with the bike started, Akane rides off fast, letting both the blind student and the Brunhilde watch as she leaves the Academy in a rather showoff mood. Her Yamaha YZF-R1M revving its engines as it rides across the track and exits out the Academy.
Once Akane was gone, Chifuyu was still in a foul mood, so she took it out on the one student standing next to her. "How are you related to her?"
"She's my guardian," Raiden reveals. "I've lived under her for about eight years."
Chifuyu kept silent but the thought still ticked her off a bit. Let's just hope the rest of the day does not make her any more stressed out than it already has. Both teacher and student soon depart back inside the Academy grounds, with only one of them doing her best to hide her irritation of seeing someone she never hoped to see again.
"Hey, did you hear?" asked one of the girls from class to her friends. "Apparently, there's been a class rep switch in Class 2."
"A transfer student? At a time like this?" asked Ichika.
"I heard she is also from China," said another girl.
"Hmph. I wonder if they are getting reinforcements to counter me," said Cecilia.
"Is she even that strong?" asked Ichika.
"Only Class 1 and Class 4 have students with personal units, so I'm sure it's nothing special," answered another girl.
"Your information is out of date," spoke another voice from the entrance to the class. The figure was a small, female, Chinese girl with twin tail hair that was held up by two ribbons.
"The new class representative of Class 2 has a personal unit," She stated proudly. "You're not going to win the match so easily!"
Ichika stood up as he recognized a familiar face. "Rin. Is that you?"
"That's right! National representative of China, Huang Lingyin! I'm here to declare my challenge to you guys!" She then pointed her finger towards everyone as they questioned her motives and identity.
"Wh-Who is she, acting so close to Ichika-san?" asked Cecilia.
"Rin, why are you trying to act so cool? That's so not like you," said Ichika.
Rin's face immediately blushed in embarrassment and said, "H-How dare you!"
*BONK*
Rin immediately got hit in the head from behind as Chifuyu walked in from behind. Holding her head in pain, she looked back and found herself to be in terror.
"What are you even doing here? Get back to your classroom. It's about to start soon."
"Chi-Chifuyu-san…"
"Call me Orimura-sensei. Now get out of here," Chifuyu walked in followed by Raiden.
She then turned back to Ichika before leaving, saying, "I'll be back later, so don't run away, Ichika!"
As morning classes were underway, Chifuyu went on about the future lessons, but a few students were distracted of the new transfer student. But the main two of it all were Cecilia and Houki.
'Who was that girl earlier?' Houki asked in her mind. 'She seemed to be quite friendly with Ichika. I thought I was your only childhood friend.'
'I wonder who that girl was earlier,' Cecilia wondered. 'I hate to admit it, but she seems to be too much friendly with Ichika-san. I don't know what kind of relationship she has with him. But I can't help but think that she has a large head start over me. This is unfair! I demand a fair and square match!'
"Shinonono. Alcott."
The scary voice of Chifuyu is then heard, startling the two as they realized they were distracted for too long.
"Are my lessons that boring to you?" She asked.
*BAM*
*POW*
Both girls rubbed their heads in pain, having lumps on their heads. With the warning straightened out, everyone had put away any thoughts that were not relevant to today's lessons.
During lunch break, Ichika, Rin, and Raiden were sitting at one table eating their meal with Houki and Cecilia at another table on the other side, giving off glares and angry remarks.
"I didn't expect you to come here, Rin. It's been quite a while," said Ichika. "Around a year or so, yeah?"
"Well, long story short, I got tested to be an IS pilot and sent here as a representative candidate," Rin said.
"And since when did you become a representative candidate?" asked Ichika.
"That's my line. You were in the news! I heard you moved an IS by accident. What happened?"
"Well, a lot of things happened since then…A lot of things," Ichika laughed as he rubbed his head sheepishly. "I never thought I'd end up enrolled at a place like this, either."
Rin then said, "Tell me everything."
Ichika began, "A high school entrance exam I took was held at a multipurpose room. Then I got lost. I asked for directions from the staff, but they didn't make sense. I kept wandering around, then…"
*BAM*
Two pairs of hands then slammed onto the table which startled Ichika and Rin except for Raiden, who merely caught his small bottle of saké as it lost its balance on the table.
"Ichika, what is your relationship with her?!" asked Houki.
"Yes, you two seem to be getting along too well! Are you even d-d-d-dating?!" said Cecilia.
Rin panicked a little saying "N-N-No, we're nothing like…"
Ichika then explained, "She's right. We're just childhood friends."
Houki however got confused. "But I thought I was your childhood friend."
It would make sense that Houki would ask that as she had never met nor heard of Lingyin Huang from China.
"Childhood friend?" asked Rin, looking at Ichika.
"It's not what you think. See, Houki, you moved out once 4th grade was over. Rin here moved in at the start of 5th grade. And she went back to China after our second year in middle school. So it's been about a year since we last saw each other."
He then turns to Rin and says, "Rin, meet Houki. The one I told you about before. The girl who I walked home and to the Kendo dojo with during elementary school."
Rin gets a look at Houki and finally has an understanding. "Oh, I see."
And already, there were sparks and lightning all over.
"Nice to finally have met you. I hope we will get on well together."
"Yeah, the feeling's mutual," Houki replied.
Ichika only sat there, confused by what was going on. Raiden only sat in silence, not wanting to be caught in the middle of the two.
"Ahem!" Cecilia clears her throat as she gains Rin's attention. "It would be quite troubling if you have forgotten all about me, Cadet Representative of China."
But Rin only replied in confusion, "Who are you again?"
"What?! You don't recognize me, Cecilia Alcott. The Cadet Representative of England?"
"Nope. Besides, I don't care about other countries."
"What was that? For your information, I'm not someone who'll be defeated by someone like you."
Rin continues eating her ramen. "Really? But if we do fight, I'll definitely win. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm quite formidable."
"You certainly have a lot of nerve."
"Say, Ichika, I heard you're Class 1's representative," Rin said. "Even though you lost the match."
"Yeah, it turned out that way," Ichika said. "I lost but Raiden here gave the title to me."
"I see," Rin said as she drank her ramen. "You know what, I don't mind if I oversee your IS training."
That immediately lit the girls up as they saw their competition just get rougher with one more added to the mix.
"Teaching Ichika all about IS is my job!" Houki said. "Don't you know that he himself asked me to do it!"
"Aren't you from class 2?" asked Cecilia. "Class 1 will not accept any help from anyone else except from ourselves!"
Rin casually ignored them saying, "I was talking to Ichika here. It's quite ride to just butt in."
That only ticked the two off badly. Raiden could already sense that more hot oil was already being thrown onto the fire, enough for the pan to be engulfed in flames.
"Listen here. Ichika wants me to do this for him!" Houki said.
"He is a representative of our class," Cecilia said. "Which means our class should be the one to help him! You were the one who appeared out of nowhere. And forcing yourself onto him."
"I didn't appear out of nowhere," Rin said. "After all, I've known him for quite a long time."
"And I have known him longer than you have!" Houki exclaimed. "In fact, Ihcika has eaten several times at my home. That's how close the two of us are!"
"Oh? Well, he has eaten at mine too."
The girls were shocked, wondering what she just heard. Turning towards Ichika, they demanded what she had meant by that but Ichika quickly gives an explanation.
"Well, I just went to the Chinese restaurant that Rin's family owned," Ichika revealed.
"O-Oh, a restaurant," Houki seemed relieved.
"Oh. That's all there is to it," Cecilia also relaxed. "Then, its nothing out of the ordinary."
Before long, the bell then rang, signaling that lunch period was about to end soon.
"Oh would you look at the time? Gotta go. "I'll see you after class, Ichika. Bye!" Rin immediately grabbed her empty plate of food and took off before anyone could speak.
"Ichika, you need to prioritize your time. It won't be long before the tournament," Houki said.
"Ichika-san. May I remind you not to waste precious time?" Cecilia scolded.
The two girls looked at one another, nodding in confirmation of the situation. Since they now had a common enemy, they could put aside their differences to work together and make sure Rin didn't win. And so an uneasy and temporary alliance was formed.
While Ichika could only sit there clueless, Raiden could only smile a bit sheepishly.
"Looks like the girls seem really interested in IS training, that they are," Raiden said.
"They must really want me to win. Probably for the meal tickets. What about you though, Raiden?"
"Your sister has been giving me private lessons on the side. But with this tournament coming up, I guess I should lend you a hand, that I should."
"Huh?"
As Ichika had donned on his IS suit and walks out to the arena for training, he comes across something surprising. A familiar student with a ponytail held up by a green ribbon and piloting the Uchigane training IS.
Cecilia walked in behind him. "Ichika-san. I think it's about time we start… Shinonono-san?"
"Why are you looking at me like that? Is something wrong?" asked Houki.
Ichika denied. "Well, it's nothing wrong but…"
"What are you doing here?" asked Cecilia.
"Why you ask? Well, Ichika asked me to!" Houki exclaimed. "Besides, he really lacks close combat training. Which means it's my turn."
Houki was piloting an Uchigane, a Japanese 2nd generation mass produced training IS unit. A defensive model boasting stabilized functions that are easy to use for beginners. Even the IS Academy uses it as their training unit of choice.
Cecilia didn't count on her using a training unit nor the fact she easily got clearance to use it. And now having her own personal IS does not give her any advantage whatsoever.
Houki soon points her katana at Ichika and declares, "Now, Ichika, let's do this. Come on!"
"Oh. Right." Ichika activates his IS Byakushiki, preparing to duel Houki. But before they could even get started, Cecilia intervenes and activates her IS.
"Please hold on for a minute! I do believe that I'm far better suited to train Ichika-san!"
Houki would not buy it as her blade and Cecilia's rifle became deadlocked.
"If you get in my way, I'll cut you down!" She said.
"I wouldn't be so genial as to let myself get left behind just by a training unit!"
This was hopeless for Ichika. With both Houki and Cecilia now fighting over who gets to train him, they were about to quarrel and start a duel. Ichika wondered what was going to happen to his training now and thought that he could just sit this one out and wait for the girls to finish.
But luckily, rescue came for him.
"Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū – Ryū Tsui Shō Sen!"
In an instant, quicker than what Ichika's eye could see, Raiden was in his IS, Lion Heart, wielding his Sakabatō. Swiftly, he strikes down on Houki's blade before uppercutting it onto Cecilia's rifle, shocking the two girls as they back away.
But then that's when they see both sword and rifle get sliced up in two.
"Ah—"
"What the—"
Both Cecilia and Houki respectively were shocked. They didn't even see Raiden come in and intervene, not to mention dissecting their weapons in half.
However, it was Houki who deduces that Raiden must have flipped his blade to cut both of their weapons into two. If he was striking at any other intended part, he would have used the other side.
Raiden stands up with his Sakabatō at the side, bearing a somewhat stern expression.
"Houki-dono. Cecilia-dono. I know you two are eager to train Ichika, that you are. But if neither of you can compromise, then I will take over, that I will."
The girls, after seeing that one IS pilot had not only stopped them quarreling but also wounded their pride, were forced to stand down. Without their weapons, they were forced to wait for them to recover, or in Houki's case, find a new IS katana. They just hoped that this training that Raiden has taken over will not take so long, given of how desperately they want to train with Ichika.
Raiden then turned his attention over to his fellow male IS pilot.
"Ichika…" Raiden called out. "Draw out Yukihira. I want to test your sword skills only without the use of the other packages in your IS."
"R-Right," He said. Ichika draws out Yukihira Nigata as commanded and gets into a ready position with two hands on the handle of the blade.
"Three rounds of sword dueling," Raiden said. "That should be enough to determine where you are."
Ichika nods but he felt pretty overconfident. Despite being defeated by Raiden earlier, he was not one to quit after having suffered a loss. He was stubborn, as any Orimura would be. And he was not going to let one loss get the better of him, his pride would not allow it otherwise.
The first round began with Ichika striking first. Remembering all the techniques from the special training he had with Houki, Ichika keeps up his pace, but he is swiftly struck in the stomach and then back by the Sakabatō from Raiden.
As Ichika takes in the pain, the two return to their spots and prepare themselves again.
"Again," Raiden said.
Second round had begun as Ichika goes on the offensive once more. This time, he had improved a bit from the last performance. He managed to advance further into Raiden, enough for their swords to lock.
But it was not enough. Despite not being struck in the back again, Ichika had the Sakabatō right to his neck. If the blade was flipped around, he would have had his carotid artery cut.
"Again," Raiden said.
When the two return to their spots, Ichika decided that if he was going to win even a single round, he needed to not just make the first move and try to land a hit. Trying to remember what Chifuyu had taught him through kenjutsu, he takes a deep breath, reflects on the previous two duels, and brings the Yukihira Nigata back and up.
Raiden does the same, seeing that Ichika is taking on a different strategy. He was able to tell by the movement of his sword, the hearing of his breath, and the way he shifted his feet.
Ichika makes the first strike just as Raiden blocks and counters. The two keep trading off blow for blow, especially as Ichika spins behinds Raiden to strike but the blind boy blocks it. Ichika blocks another counter strike and goes on the attack. This makes Raiden duck beneath the swing of the blade and then the two ready themselves for one last push.
But on that last and final strike…
*FWOOM*
Both blades of the two opponents met in the middle, right at each other's necks. Both Houki and Cecilia were stunned, standing up to see the two boys just a hair's away from cutting their necks. If it were not for their shield energy, that may have happened. And even if their shield energy was depleted, the Absolute Defense system would have kicked in to save either of them.
Ichika's adrenaline still rushed in him as evidenced by his panting. Finally, after two rounds of being defeated, he managed to bring Raiden to a draw. But whether that was because he predicted the blind swordsman's moves or he was just sticking to his gut was unknown. Still, it did feel good that he was not the one to be defeated for a third time.
Raiden however remained composed and remote. Even with the Sakabatō at Ichika's neck, it was still very dangerous. Any closer and Ichika could have been severely injured, and Raiden would have his ass handed to by Chifuyu. Still, after dueling Ichika for three rounds, he finally had an answer to the Orimura boy's assessment of his IS.
Both pilots draw back their blades as Raiden lowers his Sakabatō.
"Good. Very good," Raiden congratulated. "With each duel, you start to understand your opponent. Had this been with real swords, you would be dead. But tell me… why did you draw your blade?"
Ichika was a bit confused. "Because you drew your blade first?"
"Wrong," Raiden shakes his head. "You drew your blade because you chose to enter into the duel without thinking, in the belief you would be the one to win. But it is far better to draw your blade if you wish to protect and preserve a life rather than take it, achieving a much greater victory."
"I don't understand," Ichika said.
"The philosophy of Katsujinken is to fight without killing, as opposed to Satsujinken where you fight to kill. You must stress the importance of controlling the flow and pace of the battle to its practitioner, making the use of defensive maneuvers, disarming techniques, and incapacitating attacks, allowing a duel's intensity of potential lethality and tension to be maintained and even broken so that the user may take advantage of the opponent's openings to strike back in self-defense."
While Ichika sat their clueless wondering what Raiden meant by all that, it was Houki who was rather surprised. She understood all of what Raiden had said as it summed up Katsujinken, and by extension Kamiya Kasshin-ryu, pretty well. Privately, she began to wonder if that is why Raiden has the Sakabatō. She wages that he could not have traveled with that blade all his life or that it was a family heirloom passed down. She already knows almost next to nothing regarding his past. But maybe it is for the best to keep it hush hush for now.
"Raiden..." Ichika asked. "Won't you teach me your sword style?"
Now it was Raiden that was surprised. "Oro?"
"I mean, you're very good with a sword. A lot better than me. Don't you think you can—"
"I cannot," Raiden said while shaking his head. "My training is incomplete."
This shocks Houki a lot. "What? You left your training?"
"Regrettably, that I did," Raiden said. "Because I got called to attend the IS Academy when they learned I could pilot an IS. And my master and I… had a disagreement. He said I could stay with him forever to continue learning Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, or attend the IS Academy and be dragged back into the past. I chose the latter because if I refused, I'd be hunted down by the government."
"But, you're so good with a sword, you were able to beat me, Cecilia, and even disarmed those two."
"True, but that would not qualify me as a master," Raiden said humbly. "Like I said, my training is incomplete."
Raiden then turns over to the girls and asks, "Can I ask you two to handle the rest of his training?"
Both Houki and Cecilia were surprised, especially given that he butted between the two and took over.
"You'd let us train him? After what we—" Houki was interrupted.
"I needed to test Ichika's sword skills to see where he is at," Raiden revealed. "Since it is his only weapon, he will need a lot of practice, that he will."
Houki, for one, could not deny Raiden's thinking. Indeed, Ichika's sword skills have been lackluster at best thanks to his years of neglecting Kendo. And with only the Yukihira Nigata as his only weapon on his IS, he needed to start feeling the sword again.
"I suppose you're right," Houki concurred. "Shall we, Cecilia?"
"Y-Yeah, but where will you be, Raiden?" asked Cecilia.
"Up on the stands supervising," Raiden said. "I'll give tips here and there."
With that settled on a fair agreement, the three began to work Ichika hard, training him for the upcoming tournament, knowing that he will have to face the three individually at some point in the arena.
When the practice sessions over and Ichika exhausted, he returns to the locker room. Houki went back earlier to their room to take a shower, leaving Ichika alone. Raiden also left, returning back to his dorm room alongside Houki. Cecilia too did the same.
"This is going to keep up until the class league match?" Ichika asked himself.
But a new voice perks up. "Good work, Ichika."
Ichika looks over to see Rin with drink and towel in hand. "A sports drink okay with you?" She asked. She hands him the towel. "Here."
"You were waiting for me?" asked Ichika as he takes the towel.
Rin giggles. "Pretty much."
Rin sits down next to Ichika on the bench, with the sports drink still in hand.
"It's finally just the two of us," Rin said.
"Eh? Ah, yeah," Ichika said after wiping himself off.
Rin fidgets herself a bit, wanting to ask a rather personal question to her childhood friend.
"Ichika…" Rin asked. "Was it lonely not having me around?"
"Well, it always feels lonely to lose a friend to some degree," He said.
"That's not what I meant. I'm the childhood friend you met after your blank period, so you've got things to say, don't you?"
Ichika then remembered, "Oh yeah! I forgot something important."
This makes Rin gasp a bit.
"Did you call anyone from our middle school?" He asked. "I bet they'll be happy to hear you're back."
All hopes shot down for Rin.
"That's not what I mean!" She said. "Like—"
But Ichika did not listen as he stands up. "Sorry, it's starting to get cold, so I'm heading back to my room. Houki should be out of the shower by now."
"Shower?" asked Rin. "Houki is that girl from earlier, right? What's your relationship with her?"
"First childhood friend," Ichika said. "And you're the second."
That was not the answer Rin wanted. "How is being a childhood friend related to a shower?!"
"I share a room with Houki right now."
"Huh?!"
"They couldn't get a room for me unlike Raiden" Ichika revealed.
"Y-You mean you're sleeping in the same room as her and not Raiden?"
"Yeah. But I'm glad it was Houki. If I was paired with another girl that I don't know, I'd be sleep deprived from being nervous all the time."
This makes Rin downtrodden.
Ichika takes notice. "What's wrong?"
"So it's fine as long as it's a childhood friend."
Ichika couldn't quite hear that.
"I said, so it's fine as long as it's a childhood friend!"
That shook Ichika a bit by surprised, making him wonder what Rin had meant by that statement and what had gotten into her.
LATER…
A peaceful night did not seem possible for Ichika, especially when it was discovered that there are now two childhood friends of his in his dorm room.
"And that is why, we need to change rooms," Rin finished her appeal, clapping her hands together to show her sincerity. "So, what do you say?"
One minute Houki and Ichika were relaxing in their room getting ready for bed. But the next, Rin had knocked on the door, barged in with her luggage, and demanded a room swap between herself and Houki. Needless to say, Houki did not like the idea one bit.
"Are you out of your mind? Why should I do that?" asked a demanding Houki.
"You must be bothered by having to share a room with a guy every night, and you can't relax with him around. Since I'm not that fussy about that, and out of the goodness of my heart, I'm offering you a chance to change rooms. Heck, you can room in with Raiden. I heard he is living alone in his dorm room. Pretty good deal, huh?"
Houki, being stubborn as she was, holds her ground. "I never said any of that, and whatever issues we have is between me and Ichika. So, don't butt in."
"What? Are you telling me you're fine with staying in the same room as Ichika?"
Houki wanted to answer but she was feeling too embarrassed to do so. Especially if Ichika was right there listening in on everything.
Ichika could only watch from his bed as the two girls argue. Knowing both of them well, he had a feeling something like this would happen. After all, Rin was someone who did whatever she wanted and in her own way. Houki on the other hand was more opinionated and quite stubborn about certain things.
"So, Rin, is that all your things?" Ichika noted the small travel bag Rin had, which contained all the necessities she needed.
"That's right. As long as I have this with me, I'm ready to go," Rin said patting he top of her suitcase.
"I'm not moving out," Houki glares at Rin.
"That's fine, then. If you won't move out, then I'll just have to move in. There's just enough space for three people."
"What?! No, get out! This is my room!"
"But this is Ichika's room, too. You guys are okay living together because you're childhood friends. And I'm his childhood friend so it shouldn't be a problem."
Rin then comes over to ichika, asking something of a crucial, crucial question, one she hoped he would remember.
"Say, Ichika. Do you still remember our promise?" Rin changed the topic.
"Our promise?" Ichika tried to recall. "Do you mean the one we made back in middle school?"
Being ignored did not sit well with Houki as she reached a breaking point.
"Ichika! Don't you dare ignore me!"
Grabbing her bokken from the corner of the room, Houki aims to strike at Ichika.
"Wait wait wait!" Ichika panicked before Rin's wristband glowed on her right arm.
*CLANG*
The sound of wood hitting metal rang in the ears of everyone. Rin held out her partially deployed IS arm to block Houki's strike to protect Ichika.
"Rin, are you alright?" asked Ichika, amazed that Rin had partially deployed her IS in such a short amount of time.
"This is no biggie," Rin said confidently. "I'm a representative candidate after all." She then turned to address Houki. "Listen here. A normal person could've been seriously injured by that attack. That bokken of yours would've given Ichika at least a fracture. And you call yourself a childhood friend."
Houki soon dropped her sword. The way she swung her sword, she was so angry that she was actually trying to hurt Ichika. If Rin had not blocked it in time, Ichika would've been seriously injured. She had to admit she was still immature, especially over Ichika.
But that is when she recalls Raiden and his words, especially on her dojo's philosophy of Katsujinken.
"A sword is a weapon. Swordsmanship is learning how to kill. No matter what ideals and names you use to cover it up, that is the truth of the world."
In that sense, if she had a real katana, Ichika would have ended up sliced in two. And a samurai such as her should never enter battle unless she was ready to kill.
An apology was all Houki could muster as she sat on the bed, too ashamed to continue speaking or ague with Rin now.
With that over, Rin dematerializes the IS on her arm. "Oh well. What's done is done."
"Um, Rin, about that promise you were talking about," Ichika said.
"Yeah. You still remember, right?" Rin's cheeks heated up.
"Oh that. The one where fi you get better at cooking than you'll…"
Rin's face beamed. "Yes! That's the one."
"Always be treating me to sweet-and-sour pork every day, right?"
"What?
"We promised that once you get better at cooking, you'll be making me food right,?"
*SMACK*
One minute there was confusion but the next was a slap to the face. By Rin herself. She had just struck Ichika with the palm of her hand. Anger grips her hard as teardrops start falling, staining her already red palm.
"…"R-Rin?"
"You're the worst!" She screamed. "How could you forget the promise?"
"What are you talking about? I just told you what it was."
"I can't believe you can't remember what you promised a girl! How can you even call yourself a man, you insensitive jerk?! Pathetic dimwit!? I hope a dog bites you to death."
Hurt by this betrayal and the fact Ichika forgot the promise, Rin grabs her travel bag and runs off, slamming the door behind her while hiding her teary-eyed face.
Ichika just stood there. Feeling the area where Rin struck leaving a red handprint behind. It stung whenever he touched it. He just couldn't understand why Rin was so angry at him for, in his mind, remembering the promise. He could have sworn he didn't forget.
"Ichika," Houki said, having seen and heard everything.
"Y-yeah?"
Houki glares at Ichika. Despite her earlier mishap, what he did to Rin was far, far worse.
"Get kicked by a horse and die."
The class representative tournament was only one week away. With only a short time before the day, all students had to make every moment count. Those not competing went on as usual with their studies and betting who would win in each division.
But things for some students were not faring so well. Ever since that night of Rin and the broken promise by Ichika, her mood did not improve. And it had not since then. Somehow it only managed to get worse. She never approached Ichika, always turning her head whenever she passed by him in the halls. Her mouth was a frown just thinking about him or being near him.
Oddly enough, she seemed more comfortable around Raiden. Surprisingly, it was Raiden who approached her first and confessed he wasn't there on Ichika's behalf. And he wasn't interested in what made her in a foul mood around Ichika. This somewhat lessened her anger as it gave her a chance to spend time with the other male IS pilot. But she was still cautious because she knows next to nothing about him.
Ichika's other problem though was in regards to the tournament. His IS, Byakushiki, doesn't have any ranged weapons. It only had the Yukihira Nigata. Normally, an IS unit is supposed to have been equipped with one weapon. And if the preset may not be enough, there is still the Equalizer.
For example, the preset of Cecilia's IS Blue Tears is the BIT weapon drones it has. The Equalizers are its Starlight Mk. III rifle and a combat knife called Interceptor. And to accommodate the equalizers, a bus-slot is needed. In the past, the specs of the machine determined how many armaments could be used. But, nowadays, an ordinary IS can equip at least two weapons.
But with no available bus-slot on Byakushiki, not to mention that the preset cannot be changed, it meant that Ichika can only fight with his sword. But the same could be said for Raiden since all he has is the Sakabatō. Then again, having demonstrated his skills with such a weapon, perhaps he did not need any range weapons installed on his IS.
Ichika soon enters through large doors leading to the arena, at least the side he would be at, and comes across a rather grumbling Representative Candidate of China.
"I've been waiting for you, Ichika!" Rin exclaimed.
Everyone turned to see Rin leaning against a wall, arms crossed over.
"How did you get in here?" asked Cecilia.
"This place is off-limits to those people who are not involved here!" Houki said.
"But I am involved," Rin said. "With Ichika, that is. So I'm all clear."
Houki wasn't convinced. "Really now. Care to mention how involved you are with him?"
"You sure have a lot of courage speaking like that after trespassing!" Cecilia said.
"Jeez! Now will you irrelevant people just move aside now?" asked an uninterested Rin.
"I-Irrelevant!?" Both girls exclaimed.
With that said, Rin moves over to her childhood friend, still ticked off.
"So, Ichika, are you sorry now?" asked Rin.
But Ichika, dense as ever, responds, "Huh? About what?"
That only ticked Rin off a lot. "Don't you get it? That you're sorry for making me mad. And you want to make up with me. Among other things!"
"Even if you say that… weren't you the one avoiding me?"
"Why you… So you're saying that if a girl tells you to leave her alone, you're actually going to just leave her?"
"Yes. Is something wrong with that?"
Houki and Cecilia just couldn't believe how hopeless Ichika was. He really had no idea how a maiden's heart works.
"You're asking what's wrong with that? Dammit! Apologize right here and now!"
"What for? I did remember our promise, didn't I?"
"Oh come on! You're still saying that!? You don't even realize the meaning behind that promise! I've had enough of this! You don't want to apologize, do you?"
"I'll apologize once you give me a proper explanation."
"I-I came all the way here because I didn't want to do that! So how about this: In the interclass tournament next week, the loser will have to follow what the winner tells him to do. Is that alright?"
Ichika could agree with that at least. "Sure thing. If I win, you better tell me all about it."
But that makes Rin a bit bashful and hesitant. "T-Tell you…"
"What's wrong?" Ichika asked. "You can back off if you want to."
"Like I would! Better start practicing apologizing now, you insensitive blockhead!"
"Oh shut up, washboard," Ichika muttered to himself while turning his head away scoffing.
That was a mistake. Big mistake as Rin heard it. He done did it now.
"You said it…" Rin lowly said.
With that, she partially activates her IS.
Ichika tries to get her to calm down. "Woah! Sorry! That one was my fault! I'm really sorry!"
*CLANG*
And with one loud bang, Rin's fist came flying down trying to crush Ichika. But it was soon stopped by a Sakabatō. Everyone in the room was stunned, seeing that Raiden was the one to block the strike, pulling out his sword without even activating his IS.
"R-Raiden?" Ichika was stunned. "Oh, thank you for—"
Raiden briefly looks back at Ichika and though he wore a blindfold, the aura he gave off made the younger Orimura hold his tongue. If anything, it looked like he was angry.
"Why did you stop me?" asked a still riled up Rin. "Get out of my way!"
"Rin, I want you to hear me out, for your own sake," Raiden requested calmly.
"This is between me and Ichika! Don't you dare defend him after what he—"
"I'm not trying to," Raiden interrupted. "I know what he said to you was rude, and what he said earlier perhaps did earn him a slap from you. But you trying to crush him with your IS is something I cannot just let slip by. If you assaulted him with your IS, you'd earn Orimura-sensei's wrath, that you would."
Rin however didn't care, lowering her gaze a bit. "I knew it. You're defending him! It was always his damn fault! I was thinking of holding back but it seems like you really want to die with him. Fine, I'll grant your final wish."
Rin deactivates her partially-deployed IS, looking at the blind samurai in contempt as she turns around and walks away. "I'm gonna hit you with all I've got, Hataru."
As Rin walks away, the door closes behind her. Raiden watches with a remote expression, sheathing away his sword. However, both Houki and Cecilia were surprised of how quick and sharp Raiden was in blocking her attack.
"Stopping a partially deployed IS with just a Sakabatō…" Houki said.
"She's a power type and a melee type just like you two, Ichika-san, Raiden-san." Cecilia noted.
Ichika felt bad about what he said. Saying something about Rin;s chest was a bad move. No matter the outcome of the match or the tournament, he will have to apologize to her. But that was when Raiden tuned to him and bore a stern expression, one that mirrored Chifuyu's almost.
"Ichika, that was too far," Raiden said. "Any more and you may have lost your friendship with Rin. She has enough stress on herself and you don't need to add more to it, that you should not. Do you understand?"
Ichika completely agreed, "Yes."
"To think you were so tactless back there," Houki said. "While it's good you're doing special training for the IS, you should also be taking lessons on how to handle a female heart."
"I completely agree," Cecilia concurred.
When the day of the tournament eventually came, the first match was decided as were its contestants.
Raiden Hataru vs. Lingyin Huang.
Both contestants, with there is activated, levitated in the air and heeded the command to move to their designated positions.
Now came a battle between a silver lion and a wrathful Bengal tiger.
To start off for this chapter, we got Cecilia turning over a new leaf for Ichika. Now despite Raiden winning the title of class representative, he passed that on to Ichika. And there is a good reason behind it. A reason I will go into much later in the future.
Next we get a new character. Akane Fujimoto, who apparently has something of a rivalry or beef with Chifuyu for reasons yet to be revealed. Her appearance is based on Asako Kusakabe from Grisaia, right down to personality as well. And as for the other one named Miri, she too will be shown later on and, for those who are fans of Grisaia, I am sure you can guess Miri's appearance and personality if Akane's is based off of Asako's.
Finally, we get our favorite Chinese pilot, Lingyin Huang, where things start off on a good note. But you know what they say, oh how the might have fallen. Though in Rin's case, it is Ichika who has fallen so far. And I do not blame her. And now she has a duel not with the childhood friend that broke his promise to her but rather the one who defended him from ebing seriously injured for Rin's sake.
Next chapter is the duel. And a familiar intruder alert.
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