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.

Summer vacation had just emerged, which meant everyone from the Academy was now on break from school. Many international students decided to fly home, others stayed in Japan. And some of the students even decided to use the dormitory as their home for the summer. Even the Orimura siblings decide to take the opportunity to relax. Though for Chifuyu, she often came home late as she had piles of paperwork to do at the Academy, leaving Ichika at home for him to watch over.

It has been weeks since the seaside beach trip and the incident of the Silver Gospel and of Udō Hina. After everyone had spent the last two days at the Inn, the Personal IS pilots included, they all returned back to the Academy. Summer break was then right around the corner, so everyone had cleared up their schedules to make time to focus on final exams. As for those with Personal IS, they were sent in for repairs from the Silver Gospel battle. Turns out the EMP did a lot more damage to the electronics of Ichika's, Rin's, Laura's, Cecilia's, and Charlotte's IS. Raiden's was not too bad but the damage he sustained form the Silver Gospel and from Udō Hina was critical. Houki's IS was also in need for repairs and some recalibration, especially since it was forcibly deactivated when she was captured. But with summer break coming up, it didn't seem like everyone needed their Personal IS.

Raiden was in Yamanashi, at a cabin in the middle of the woods. But this was no ordinary cabin. Matter of fact, it was a cabin that he grew up in under Akane. It was hers before, but after retiring from the CIA and moving to Omega, it belonged to Raiden's. Of course, Miriam still uses it from time to time just to keep everything clean. There was not much to speak of regarding the interior as it contained a bathroom, a kitchen, a living area, and a bedroom. All furniture was standard edition, but the cabin did come with electricity, gas, and air conditioning.

And not just the cabin but also of the landscape as well. Truth be told the whole forest was his to have, about fifty acres worth. And since no humans ever wonder into the place, asides from hunters of which they are forbidden to do so, it gave Raiden a sense of security and mind. The only trespassers he has to worry about are bears. Thank goodness his mentor had set those bear traps.

However, he was near the Aokigahara Forest, infamous for its suicides and of the ghosts who supposedly live in the forest. But he was not too bothered by it as he did get a good view of Mount Fuji nearby.

The sounds of an engine though of what appeared to be a fast car was heard nearby, disturbing Raiden's sense of peace as he hears the vehicle coming towards him.

"Huh," Raiden hears. "It sounds like a Mazda, emanating the arrival of a Chinese Triad with a pistol and tattoos."

And lo and behold, a Mazda did appear. The RX-7 FD, third generation. Blue in color with a spoiler in the back. It had the body kit of an RE-Amemiya, all custom and modified that would cost about $10k altogether. With a 1.3 L R2 rotary engine that does not run on pistons and its horsepower at 350, this was a car fit for one who loves speed and power.

The driver side door pops out of the driver seat after parking and turning the engine off to reveal Liu King-sang. He was dressed in a navy floral sleeve shirt with some flowers in autumn colors and wearing blue skinny khaki pants. He wore casual black shoes and sunglasses.

"Hey, Raiden," Liu waves, seeing the blind lion on the front porch with some rum.

"Liu," Raiden greeted. "How did you know where to find me?"

"You may want to ask her for that," Liu points over to see Houki popping out, looking green like she got seasick.

And out of that came Rin as well, also looking green. Though she seemed to fare much better than Houki.

"Houki-dono? And Rin-dono?" asked Raiden.

Rin lays on her back, trying to get the dizziness out of her system. "Ugh, Liu! Next time, be easy on the throttle?"

"No can do," Liu said. "And come on, you must have at least liked how fast we got here."

"I… am not… doing that… again…" Houki panted as she couldn't get the movement out of her body either.

Seems as if neither Houki nor Rin are used to fast driving. Well, it is to be expected. Liu is not a race car driver but for someone who has a Mazda RX-7 FD, he certainly does love speed and power.

Raiden soon invites the three of them in his cabin, where he lays Houki on the couch and passing some water while Rin takes the rocking chair for her to lay her back on. Raiden goes in the fridge to get some beers out, courtesy of Miriam and/or Akane leaving them.

"Again, how did you find me?" Raiden asked as he tosses a bottle of beer to Liu.

"When Houki got directions to your cabin, I put them in the GPS in my Mazda," Liu says as he catches the beer bottle and pops the lid. "Once we figured out where to turn, it was actually easy. Turns out I'm not the only car to have come to this place. You can thank the tracks the other car left behind."

When Liu said that last statement, Raiden realized that of all the cars to his cabin, there was one other. He thinks back and remembers that whenever Miriam Walker arrived at the cabin, it was in a bright green Corvette Z06, with a V8 engine that would scream as it goes down the road from zero to sixty in 2.6 seconds.

'Sigh. Miri does tend to leave marks wherever she goes.'

"Where are the others?" asked Raiden.

"Charlotte went over to Ichika's," Rin answered as she drinks some water. "Cecilia is at some cake shop. And Laura has been doing some work from the German military."

"Sounds like everyone's got their schedule all cleared up, that they do," Raiden said. "I'm surprised though you are still here, Rin-dono."

"Well, I wanted to hang out with Liu for a bit. Catch up on him. And he's given me free access to his apartment."

"Really?" asked Raiden turning to Liu. "An IS Representative Candidate of China living with a Triad of the Righteousness Union?"

"Yeah," Liu confirmed. "Got a problem with that?"

"Just surprised, that I am," Raiden denied. "If China ever found out, there's going to be big problems, that there is."

"I'm sure the politicians over at the NPC won't be too worried," Liu shrugs it off. "Now asides the beer, you got anything else we can do to spend the time?"

"Hmm, well I do need to head to the store at some point for dinner," Raiden said.

"Then we should go once Houki here recovers."

When he said that, Liu looks down on Houki who was still experiencing vertigo and dizziness. She must be very susceptible to car sickness. Either that or she is not use to fast driving, especially in a Mazda like Liu's.

Sighing in acceptance, Raiden picks Houki up in his arms and takes her inside with Rin and Liu. And while the two Chinese people make something on the stove for Houki, Raiden tucks the Akatsubaki pilot in his bed. Thankfully because the sheets were washed and hung to dry in the sun, they were fresh and felt warm to the touch. It at least calmed Houki's body a bit and made her relax from the vertigo she was experiencing from Liu's Mazda.

"Here," Raiden passes a cup. "Some water."

"Th-Thank you," Houki said as she drinks slowly.

"I'm surprised you aren't visiting your parents, Houki," Raiden said. "Or, are they too busy at the moment?"

"Well…" She said. "I became separated from my parents."

"Separated? As in…?"

"No, no," Houki denied. "No marital disagreements or fighting or anything like that. It was more so of just… trying to stay away from the media."

"Odd that they would just leave you," Raiden was curious.

"Well, I couldn't exactly stay with them. After I got into high school, they said I was independent enough to have my own place, but I opted to stay at my family's shrine. They keep sending me monthly allowances at least. But where they are now, I do not know."

Raiden could tell from her voice that Houki seem to be enduring a lot. Indeed she was a strong woman, but she had been through a lot. In an act of care, he places a hand on her hand, surprising her at how warm and gentle his touch is.

Before the mood could be taken further, Rin pops in the bedroom.

"Hiyo! I made some porridge," Rin said bringing it out on a plate. "Huang Family style porridge coupled with a small mix of crushed Sichuan peppercorns."

Raiden was perplexed. "Are you trying to make her stomach worse?"

"Relax," Rin said. "Some bits of spice is good for the sick. Adds flavor."

Houki at this point did not care. She was starving and did not have lunch yet. So taking the spoon full of spicy porridge, she takes a small bite. And after a few seconds…

"It's so good~" Houki has a beaming face as she likes the taste.

"Oro?"

"I told you it would be," Rin smiled proudly.

For the first time in his life, Raiden was surprised to see Houki liking the porridge with Sichuan peppercorns. There must have not been a lot put into the porridge. Just enough for it to be flavorful at least.

"Now then, I need to stay with my patient, and you need to get out," Rin said pushing Raiden out the door.

"Oro? When did you become Houki-dono's personal doctor?"

The cheesy Chinese girl grins. "Just now."

And after saying that, Rin closes the door on a confused Raiden, who only gives a depressed Oro. But leaving the girls to it, he goes outside to check on Liu, who was looking at something around the corner of the house.

"Is that a Honda Accord from the 2000's era?" Liu asked in astonish. "Those are rare these days!"

"All of it is manual, including door lock and window," Raiden said. "Runs of a 3.0 Liter V6. 5-speed manual transmission. Goes 0 to 60 in 5.5 seconds."

"How much did you buy for it?" asked Liu.

"Technically, this is a hand me down from my mentor after I received a license," Raiden revealed. "So I don't know how much it was. I've only driven that about twice now."

"Twice?" asked Liu.

"My mentor wanted me to drive it all the time, but my supervisor forbade it. Said I can only drive it when either women are in the car with me and I am in the driver's seat. But thankfully, while I am not driving it, I learn how to operate it."

"Oh yeah? And what's the first thing you need for a tool kit?"

"Well, it's not a hammer for one thing."

Both boys chuckle at that. Indeed, a hammer is not exactly a motor tool used to repair a car. While it can hammer a few things in place, the car does not carry any nails or screws.

Liu's mood however becomes suspicious as he sees something parked next to the Honda Accord and leaning on the side of the cabin. It was a two-wheeler.

"Oi, what is that?" Liu points to a motorcycle.

"Oh that? That's a Honda Supercub, that it is," Raiden said. "It was my mentor's first bike, that it was."

But Liu gives an exasperated sigh, but that caught Raiden's ear. "What? You don't like it? It's a classic, that it is."

"Bikes and motorcycles are for people who want to risk themselves being turned into mush on the road."

Raiden however was not one to get angry upon Liu's comment and only chuckles. "You know if my mentor heard you say that you'd get more than just a beating."

"I like to see her try."

BACK ON OMEGA…

"Achoo!" Akane sneezes and sniffs. "Ugh, some idiot is talking bad behind me."

BACK IN YAMANASHI…

"Something I should know?" asked Raiden. "You seem to hold a great hatred for bikes."

"I was in Vietnam once, forced to ride a Vespa scooter up to Hai Long City from Saigon. Just when I was getting comfortable, the front wheel gave out and I crashed and burned pretty badly. Ended up with a scrapped elbow, cracked ribs, twisted ankle, and one torn up suit."

"Got cocky on your first ride?" asked Raiden as he drank his rum.

"One could call it that. But I was also complaining."

"No wonder you were a car fanatic when we were in school," Rin said. "You always had toys with them."

"Anyway, so yes, I have both a motorbike and a car, that I do," Raiden said.

"A Honda lover is what you are," Liu quipped. "And what is to prevent me from taking out my IS and chopping your motorbike into pieces?"

"Because that Honda is a gift of mine from my mentor, that it is," Raiden replied. "And just because you hate bikes does not mean you have to go around and destroy every single bike you see."

"Point taken. You know what? How about we take our cars out for a bit of a drag race?"

Raiden liked that idea. "You're on."

And with that, the two get their vehicles and head out to the streets for some drag racing. A 2002 Mazda RX-7 FD versus a Honda Accord from 2000. Who won the race? No one knows for certain except the two boys.

All they knew was that the sounds of their engines echoed throughout the forest, driving away the natural creatures within, bears included. And the revving of the engine could be heard from miles away, along with the screeching of tires.

HOURS LATER…

With Rin, Houki, and Liu having left the cabin in the Mazda to grab groceries, it was quiet again in Yamanashi. The stars were beginning to show up in the twilight sky, and the fireflies also emerged from within the forests. With hunting traps surrounding the area of the cabin though, Raiden felt that, for the moment, he will be safe from the predatory animals coming in. After all, in his youth, a bear did ransack the cabin before when Akane and Raiden were out hunting.

But bears aside, Raiden was receiving a call from the living room from a device called a Quantum Entanglement Communicator, or a QEC. Such a thing should not be possible but thanks to Tabane's ingenious mind and inspired by the Infinite Stratos, what was traditionally deemed as science fiction now becomes a reality.

When a pair of quantum-entangled particles is separated, a change to one particle will affect the other instantaneously, wherever it lies in the universe. QECs exploit this effect to transmit binary data any distance. Two pairs of entangled particles are necessary for transmission and reception. First, it allows instantaneous communication over any distance without reliance on the network of comm buoys, which is limited due to the sheer volume of space. Further, destruction of buoys hampers a foe's military intelligence; comm buoys are the first targets of raiders in wartime. Second, quantum communications cannot be intercepted between source and destination, allowing no "wiretaps."

With the QEC activated, courtesy of the CIA's classified technology and composed of IS tech as well, Raiden opens up a channel to reveal two holograms. One from the US and the other from the Academy. Respectively, those holograms showed Miriam Walker and Chifuyu Orimura,

"Raiden, I got Chifuyu patched in," Miriam said. "I was just getting her up to speed."

"What have we learned?" asked Raiden.

"Both the Americans and the Israelis are in uproar," Chifuyu relays the report. "I thought they'd be at each other's throats and pointing fingers but they're too friendly with one another for that. The Silver Gospel's remains are still being examined and Natasha Fairs is put into rehab regarding her memory loss."

"So we've learned nothing," Raiden said.

"Unfortunately no," Miriam confirms. "But Kurogasa's attempts may have had at least one unintended side effect. I received word from Prime Minister Kishida. He's requesting an update on Academy defense."

"Hina has the Diet scared," Chifuyu deduced. "Enough for them to ask to tighten security to ensure no more kidnappings."

"Yes, Kishida is afraid that because of the abduction of Tabane Shinonono's little sister at the hands of a hitokiri, he fears the IS Representative Candidates currently at the Academy may be targeted by other rogue IS pilots."

"Isn't that a little extreme?" asked Raiden. "The Academy is not a military installation."

"No, but there are valuable individuals who can pilot an IS. Some of them with strong connections to corporations and governments. If terrorists or high-ranking criminals are targeting specific IS pilots, it stands to reason why the politicians are shaking in their seats."

"They're trying to save face," Chifuyu said in a rather annoyed statement. "They don't want their representatives to be injured by terrorists in any way whatsoever. The Alaska Treaty is already starting to become nonexistent."

"But to increase defense around the Academy means getting other countries to cooperate," Raiden deduced. "Japan can't be the only one wanting defense."

"There was a joint petition recently offered by the UN, unfortunately," Miriam revealed. "The Diet, Congress, and the Knesset are already throwing in support to establish defenses around the Academy. And not just sensors but also anti-IS AA guns."

"You do that, Miri, and the IS Academy is not going to look like a school for education!" Chifuyu retorted. "It's going to look like some military outpost!"

But Miriam sighs. "There's nothing I can do, Chifuyu. The world of politics is outside my comfort zone and jurisdiction, and I don't even have a say in this. I am willing to bet not all the nations are wanting defenses around the Academy, but a majority of them are."

"That won't stop Tabane trying to sneak in or hack Academy systems."

"Isn't that what you're there for? You know how she operates best."

Chifuyu doesn't respond, merely closing her eyes to that statement as if acknowledging that only she can handle Tabane and no one else. But that is when she notices Raiden to be in a pensive mood. The name of the IS creator must have gotten him thinking hard on something.

"What's eating you, Raiden?" asked Chifuyu when she looks at her student.

"Just processing," Raiden answered. "Houki having her own IS, the Silver Gospel, Hina's ambush… I don't think it is a coincidence that Tabane did not involve herself in all that."

"Speak your mind," Chifuyu allowed him to continue.

"Think about it. When Houki was testing out her new IS Akatsubaki, we got the news of the rogue IS Silver Gospel emerging. Tabane suggested for only Ichika and Houki to battle the IS, which nearly ended in disaster. Once we defeated the Silver Gospel, Hina emerged and took Houki away. Everyone's IS but mine were disabled by the EMP. Tabane could have gone and rescue her little sister, but she didn't, and I don't believe she was betting it all on me to succeed. And with Hina dead and Houki recovered, Tabane mysteriously disappeared as she reappeared."

Raiden narrows his vision as he was thinking deep. "I don't like it. Something's not right about all that."

"You think Tabane is the source behind all this?" asked Miriam.

"I'd stake my life on it, that I would," Raiden responded. "But there's no proof. She's too good at hiding evidence regarding herself in various situations. She doesn't leave loose ends, that she doesn't."

Chifuyu nodded, "Normally, I am not one to believe Tabane could ever let her little sister be kidnapped by a hitokiri of Phantom Task. But if that is true, Raiden, then we're going to have a major problem for all of us. It will no doubt affect Houki."

"Until then though, we're just going to have to make it a moot point," Miriam concluded. "I've also required the autopsy results on Kurogasa, both pilot and IS. The IS was defunct and therefore unsalvageable, as a result of a failsafe program should the pilot be killed in action."

"Somebody doesn't want us to dissect Kurogasa's IS," Chifuyu deduced. "Clever. But who could hide a failsafe program of such that it self-destructs the IS?"

"If I were to guess, Chifuyu, I'd say it was our black market dealer. The same one who gave your German student that VTS Program."

This draws in the attention of both Chifuyu and Raiden, their eyes widening slightly when Miriam mentions the VTS Program. An event the two of them have never forgotten.

"You know who installed that program in Laura-dono's IS, Miri?" asked Raiden.

Miriam soon brings up to view the profile of a unassuming Japanese man who looked like some ordinary corporate worker or politician. But the truth was far more alarming as he has a Homeland Security Warning label on him. Which meant that this particular criminal was high risk.

"According to our German intelligence friends, the trade was conducted by none other than one Nobuo Iwasaki," Miriam revealed. "Or as we in America call him via a codename… Shockwave."

"Shockwave…" Raiden repeats the name softly, like he knew the name before.

"I've heard of him," Chifuyu said. "It was said he was one of the leading scientists on the Infinite Stratos when it was retrofitted for weapons combat. But his experiments involving IS pilots and their connection to the IS became so unorthodox and highly illegal that he was deemed a threat. Before he could be arrested though, Iwasaki vanished, taking all of his experiments and equipment, and burning any loose end trails that may lead to him. No one has seen or heard since."

"Until now…" Raiden summed it up.

"He may have been operating in his own time right underneath our noses," Miriam said. "But if he tampered with Kurogasa's IS and installed a failsafe self-destruct program, and the fact that Kurogasa was a member of Phantom Task, I think it is safe to say that Shockwave is also a member."

"In a terrorist organization like that, even I wouldn't doubt such a theory," Raiden said.

"But until then, I want you, as a student, Raiden, to continue your studies at the Academy," Chifuyu sternly reminded. "If Phantom Task comes, we'll be ready."

"Good luck both of you," Miriam says her goodbyes. "And be careful. Walker out."

As Miriam's hologram dissipates, Chifuyu's remains, like she switched over to a private channel and she wants to speak to Raiden about something. But really it was just to check in on him.

"How are you feeling, Raiden?" asked Chifuyu. "Enjoying your summer?"

"More or less," Raiden answered. "I'm out here all alone in Yamanashi at a cabin near Aokigahara. I could use some company if you want to come over for a beer."

"Tempted, but no thanks," Chifuyu thanked with a smile. "I got my own work to do to be ready for when classes start again. If you want though, the Shinonono Shrine is holding a summer festival in a couple of days. You better go to it."

"Sure thing. Thank you, Chifuyu-dono."

With a nod and smile from her student, Chifuyu cuts the call, her hologram dissipating. Raiden is then left alone to reflect the latest of grim news. But perhaps a visit to Houki's shrine will take his mind off things. After all, it would be better than alcohol or tobacco, as Akane would normally do.

TWO DAYS LATER…

Raiden walked up the stone stairs that were leading to the shrine. It wasn't time yet but that didn't mean he had to wait. Already, there were some people staring at him because of his blindfold but this is something he has grown accustomed to. He carried with him a stick so as to look like a blind person in public, along with wearing black sunglasses. After all, one wonders how they can get around without such a thing.

As he walked, he noticed some of the stalls set up, but they didn't have anyone to man the stores. Of course, it wasn't nighttime yet, but preparation is always key to everything.

'Yare yare. Seems like everyone is busy, that they are. Well, might as well relax and wait., that I will.'

Needing to relax somehow, Raiden sits on a nearby bench and then brings out his own kiseru, or a Japanese smoking pipe. With one small and long wooden handle in his hands, fitted with copper metal at the mouthpiece and bowl, Raiden adds about 25 milligrams the kizami, finely shredded tobacco product resembling hair, and lights it with a small lighter he packs.

*PUFF PUFF*

With the tobacco coursing through his mind, Raiden begins to feel much calmer. Now he was no avid smoker as he only smoked rarely. Plus he was not exactly allowed to smoke at the Academy. After all, he wouldn't want to be perceived as an addict and he wouldn't want the girls to get a funny smell from him of burnt tobacco.

After a couple of blows, Raiden holds the underside of his kiseru like all samurai of the Edo period do. He allows the mild flavor to relax his body in mind as he leans back into the bench. How did Raiden pick up smoking? One could claim that his time around Akane made him pick up a habit, especially since Akane was prone to smoking the kaishi paper, the tissue samurai used when cleaning their swords, while wrapped in marijuana.

A lot of onlookers who passed by witnessed Raiden smoking a kiseru and holding it like a samurai. Some could not help but admire the young man, seeing him retain such ancient traditions and ways of the samurai. Others just called him creepy, seeing a blind person smoking at a shrine. But Raiden did not bother with such compliments and insults, just wanting to be alone for a bit and relax while smoking some kizami. He takes one more puff of his kiseru and gently blows it out of his mouth.

"Raiden?" A voice disturbs his peace as he turns his head in the direction of the voice calling him.

"Oro? Houki-dono?" asked a somewhat surprised Raiden.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as she walks over but then sees his kiseru. "And… you smoke?"

"Not all the time, if that is what you are asking," Raiden said as he takes another puff. "I only do it just to calm my head, that I do."

"The way you hold the kiseru, you really do look like a samurai," Houki said as she sits next to him. "You never told me who trained you, you know?"

"That… is a story for another time, that it is."

"Eh? Come on, tell me."

"In due time."

Houki puffs her cheeks but lets it go. Now was not the time for interrogation on Raiden's past, not with a festival being prepared. She looks out to see people still setting up for tonight.

"It's this time of year again," Houki said as she looks out.

"Yes," Raiden nodded. "A summer festival at your shrine. I've never been to one actually."

"Really?" She asked as she turns his head to him.

Raiden takes another puff. "I grew up in Yamanashi, in that same cabin you visited. It's practically my home now since my mentor passed it on to me."

"Have you ever thought to move somewhere more… closer?"

"Tempting but no, I have not. I like the quiet of the forest. I don't have to worry about all those bustling noises happening."

Houki chuckles a little. She did find that reasoning acceptable. Like Raiden, she too wished for the quiet life. It was one reason why she sometimes goes to her family's shrine over the summer. At the very least though she was no recluse.

"How about you?" asked Raiden. "How are you feeling after… you know…"

Houki knew what he was talking about as her mind flashes back to her kidnapping by Kurogasa. "Oh, that. I'm fine. My wrists and ankles are healed from those chains. And my IS remained mostly undamaged compared to everyone else's."

"I see," Raiden said as he takes one more puff before his kizami ran out.

"If my sister hadn't invent the IS, I would've remained at this place," Houki said as she looks at the bracelet fitted with bells on her left wrist. "I wouldn't have to move around a lot and be away from Ichika."

"And you probably wouldn't have met me, that you wouldn't," Raiden quipped.

Houki didn't deny that as she smiles. "Yeah. Somehow, I am not angry at that fact."

"A lot of things have happened this year, haven't they?" asked Raiden.

"You're being hasty," Houki stated. "You can leave remarks like that for the end of the year."

"I suppose you're right, that you are," Raiden smiled. "They discovered that I could pilot the IS, yet managed to avoid the news because of who I am. I had to join the IS Academy, met and fought with different people, stopped a few incidents, and even made some good friends."

Houki looks at him as he continues. "Now I'm glad that I entered the IS Academy. And…" Raiden turns his head over to her. "I got to meet you, that I did."

This however makes Houki blush, but it does not go unnoticed by Raiden.

"Oro? You okay, Houki-dono?"

Houki plays with her fingers. "Well, you see… Raiden!"

"Oro?"

"I… I lo-"

"Houki-chan, there you are," called out a voice, which made Houki stop in her tracks much to her embarrassment. Turning away from Raiden and rubbing her own cheeks like she was trying to get rid of the blush on her face, she regains her normal features as she looks to the sound of the voice.

But Raiden was left confused with a question mark over his head, and an "Oro."

When the two looked, they saw a young woman with brown short hair dressed in a purple yukata.

"Aunt Yukiko!" Houki called out. "I'm sorry I left on my own…"

'Aunt?' thought Raiden. 'Right. I don't know Houki's other family members aside from her sister.'

Yukiko came over and found her niece along with Raiden. "It's fine. It's been a while. Surely you would want to wander around. It's great that you came. We were wondering who we could ask to do the Kagura dance."

"I would be happy to be of use, Aunt Yukiko," Houki accepted.

Raiden however was surprised. "Oro? Houki-dono, you're a shrine maiden?"

"Y-Yeah," Houki confirmed. "I've been a shrine maiden for a big part of my life. And this is not my first time doing a kagura dance."

Yukiko then comes up to look at Raiden with a smile as she bows politely. "I don't think we've met. Yukiko Shinonono."

"Raiden Hataru," Raiden introduced himself. However, upon hearing the name, Yukiko seemed intrigued.

"Oh. So you must be the guy that Houki has been talking about lately," said Yukiko.

"Mou. Aunt Yukiko!" said a blushing Houki, who was all but embarrassed.

Yukiko giggles. "Houki-chan, you should head to the bath when you can. Also, can you take care of the omikuji counter?"

"Got it."

She then turns her attention to Raiden and asks, "Are you here for the festival as well?"

"That I am," Raiden nodded.

"Well, good. I think it will do Houki proud to see that her crush is here."

That made Houki turn even more red. "Aunt Yukiko!"

Yukiko giggles as Houki throws a fit. Raiden could not also help but chuckle a little. Houki may be tomboyish and serious, but she does have a cute side to her. One that Raiden could not help but tease a bit from time to time.

This festival was going to be a beautiful one tonight.

HOURS LATER…

The festival had begun. Lots of people from the town were present, many of them, mostly women, dressed in their kimonos which were aesthetically beautiful. Some of the men wore their yukatas as well which, although typical, were still a nice site to see.

For a while Houki tended to the omikuji counter and she was surprised to see Ichika there. Apparently she had not told him about the festival, which she had forgotten. But her main reason was that she did not want Raiden to see her in a miko outfit. She was worried clothes like that wouldn't fit her personality.

Then again, he was blind. And he was too kind-hearted to give insults like that.

After she was relieved of duty, she had some free time with Raiden. By coincidence, the two met up with Ichika who was also accompanied by Ran Gotanda, one of Ichika's other childhood friends. And she was separated from her big brother. While Houki did indeed want to spend some one on one time with Raiden, she did not mind the company of others. So long as Raiden was there with her.

Afterwards, Houki had performed her dance to the crowd on stage, with Raiden in the far back in the dark places. He stood next to a tree and watched as Houki gracefully and elegantly performed the ritual dance. To be honest, she felt nervous, seeing her crush in full view watching her yet couldn't help but feel calm and at peace, with Raiden giving his smile.

He couldn't help but be drawn to Houki's dancing, as he felt his soul move and his mind empty of other thoughts. It was a feeling of serenity, of peace, of tranquility. It gave him a sense of relaxation, which relaxed the tension in his muscles and cut off all the pain from the wounds he had.

Once the dance was over, Houki was given reprieve. Changing into her yukata, she looked to find Raiden who was waiting for her. Finally, with Ichika catching up to Dan Gotanda, Houki and Raiden were left alone.

Houki couldn't help but feel excited for a moment. Raiden was with her and the feeling of it rushed through her like mad. Still, she felt safe with him, especially since there were a lot of people at the shrine, and it would be easy to be lost in this sort of crowd.

Both Raiden and Houki visited all kinds of stalls, whether they had food, games, or even accessories. They continued to walk and play and eat as they went through a lot of stalls. Right now, it was about 11pm, and the fireworks ceremony was about to start.

For Houki though, just being around Raiden made her heart flutter and beat more than usual. She could feel the beating in her ears and feel it from her chest. It was a feeling unlike any other, something that had magnified ten-fold after just mere months of being around the blind boy. There are times when the two of them spent time with each other, but there were other times when tragedy struck.

The IS Golem during the duel with Rin, Laura's intense feud, the Silver Gospel, Kurogasa, the emergence of his alter ego Hitokiri Kingslayer… All those events made Houki tremble slightly. Seeing her crush pushed to the very edge of the fight convinced her not to just sit by and watch anymore. She couldn't, hence why she asked for a personal IS, one adjusted to Lion Heart so that she can be connected to Raiden.

While she had achieved her dream, it took a lot of sacrifice and hard lessons to learn about the cost of such power and what it can do if not taken into account.

Thinking about this, Houki felt even more ashamed and lowered her head slightly as she played around with her fingers.

"Raiden?" Houki called out.

"Oro?"

"How was my dance?"

Raiden stopped walking as he turned and smiled. "It was beautiful. You performed admirably well, that you did."

Houki blushes with a smile. "I-I see. Thank you."

Houki then looks over to see, to her excitement as she ran, that there was a secret viewing spot behind this woods for them to view the fireworks festival. In the woods that had high trees all around, there was a gazebo area from the edge, looking out to the bright city to the right of the city was the IS Academy Island, shining in its blue lights.

Being alone with the person she liked in such a place... Houki couldn't remain calm after it ended up like this.

'It-It's just-just me and Raiden...and-and also, the-the...atmosphere, it's rather good...'

Seemingly expecting something, Houki glances at Raiden, but Raiden takes a moment to listen to the quiet sounds of night as the wind gentle lightly blew his hair back.

'Is-Isn-Isn't this a good-good time to confess!?'

If anyone asked her who she wanted to confess to, she would probably say 'The answer's in my own heart.'

Houki continued to stare at Raiden as her face gradually reddened, and let out sweat that didn't have anything to do with the heat.

'Sa-Say-Say it! Just say it! it's the time to say it...just say it!'

But her mind was hesitant as was her heart, for she feared the unknown, how Raiden would react if she confessed now.

'Must I say it? Do I have to say it? Shouldn't the guy be the one confessing? No, it's that Raiden. He won't say it himself. Speaking of which, I don't know if he likes me—no! He likes me! He really likes me! Most likely! I guess...'

Realizing that she was repeating the words in her heart, Houki blushes again.

"I heard they're going to have fireworks tonight," Raiden said.

"Is that so?" asked Houki.

"Since we're already here, let's stay to watch that," Raiden suggested.

"Yeah. This place seems to have the best view of the fireworks."

Houki scooches over to Raiden's side, little by little. She could feel her right arm touch his left, both of their yukatas against one another. She felt very calm in his presence, like she was okay with being this close to him. Granted it may be the fact she is just comfortable around him since he was her roommate and fellow samurai.

And yet, she cannot help but consider her heart of how she felt around him. She still remembers that night on the beach with Raiden. The night where they shared their first kiss, a moment she has never forgotten nor did she ever regret having. It was if in that moment, she had completely forgotten about Ichika.

Ichika Orimura. Her childhood friend whom she had feelings for. Six years of not seeing him and they found themselves at the IS Academy attending classes together. They were roommates briefly before she moved out. They went to the same dojo together before she was forced to move due to her sister inventing the Infinite Stratos. And in all that time, she maintained her feelings in her heart for him.

Of course with Ichika, she was not so sure what to think of him now. He was strong, powerful in his own right. Stubborn as well, almost as stubborn as herself. And no matter what situation he was in, he always managed to pull himself through somehow, perhaps on sheer on dumb luck. And if he lost, it hurts his pride a little as a man, but he does not show it off.

But when she thinks about Raiden, it was as if all of those qualities she found in Ichika were nothing compared to Raiden. In fact, he was almost the complete opposite. Like Ichika, Raiden was compassionate and caring. But unlike Ichika, he was not so arrogant and so cocky. Even when facing against such odds, there was a chance Raiden may not win. And he always accepted that. But there was that time where she saw his alter ego. That which he did not want to unleash, and that which she was scarred of seeing.

Hitokiri Kingslayer, the infamous assassin that slew the king and queen of Luxembourg. If it were not for her, Raiden would've been drawn back to his original persona as a killer.

It scared her to think that at any time in any duel, Raiden can revert back. Just a little something that can push him to the edge, whether through the harm of a loved one or having a tough time dealing a powerful opponent, Raiden's mind can snap and he can activate his One-Off Ability.

"Are you… enduring a lot of things just for me?" asked Houki.

This made Raiden turn his head over to face her. "Oro? Why do you think so?"

Houki blushes hard upon seeing his face. "I… just felt that way…"

"Why are you blushing so hard now?"

"I-I I'm not blushing-!"

"Are you nervous?"

"I'm… I'm not!"

But then this made Raiden take some drastic measures as he asks the same question Houki had asked him.

"Are you enduring as well?" He asked.

That made Houki gasp and lower her head in realization, hiding her sa dface. Even without seeing, Raiden could see she was shaking a bit, as if something was wrong. He knew the question he asked back was making Houki uneasy, but he felt it was necessary. He didn't like it but it was never about liking something necessary.

"Sorry. That was over the line," Raiden said as he pats her head. "I'll take my leave."

But Houki stops him, grabbing onto the sleeve of his yukata, and making him turn back to face her.

"I am… I've bene enduring!" Houki confessed. "Why must it be you?! I don't get it at all! You're a second male IS pilot who became my roommate. You went so far as to protect me, rescue me. And since then, my heart never felt so confused, so hurt. I wanted to be with Ichika, but when you came along I felt conflicted."

Houki then made a bold statement as she turns her head to the side out of bashfulness.

"The truth is, I wanted to join hands with you since you saved me!"

This made Raiden shocked as Houki continues voicing out the suffering of her heart.

"One moment you act like nothing to you ahs happened, and then the next you act all serious when facing an opponent. So much so that I was afraid you'd become like your old self. Why does my heart pound for you instead of Ichika? Why do I feel lonely when I fear you are going to leave me and go back wandering? Why are you… the only one causing me so much confusion?"

This makes Houki feel herself wrapped up in the arms of the lion. At first surprised but she soon finds comfort in it, listening to his heartbeat as her ear was on his chest by coincidence. And it was beating so hard. As Raiden hugs her, a flurry of Sakura petals carried by the wind overcame the background briefly.

"R-Raiden?" She asked.

"You… really are a fragile girl, Houki-dono," Raiden said as he holds her in his arms gently. "But I endure all this because I don't want to lose the people I care most for. The day I lost my sight, the last thing I saw were the dead bodies of my parents. An image burned into my head, that it was. But when you came to me, you said you didn't care about my past nor who I was so long as I retained the motto of Katsujinken. That alone made me think you were not just someone worth being called a friend but someone whom I wanted to protect. I've been enduring a lot of things, and I can't phrase it short, that I cannot."

Raiden soon brings his right hand to cup Houki's left cheek, to her surprise. But she did not mind as she looks back at Raiden's face with a blush.

"Even now… I truly do not want to lose you. Not ever again."

Her left hand reaches for the one on her cheek, grasping it as she sees Raiden close the gap between her. All other second thoughts were banished from her mind, like she gave in to the feelings within her heart.

Just then, the first firework bursts out into the sky.

*BANG*

But at the same time, Houki and Raiden's lips were met in a gentle kiss. Like two lovers of Japanese folklore, their forms shine under the light of the fireworks in their kiss. They savor the moment between them briefly before they pull back, a saliva bridge forming before it breaks off.

"This is what's on my mind now, as it is," Raiden said. "I love you, Houki."

A bashful Houki stutters a bit, as if her samurai persona took over her. "I… hate you."

But Raiden was not offended by it. Not one bit as they hold hands and interlock fingers while watching the rest of the fireworks.

"You're really a bashful and cute girl, Houki-dono, that you are," Raiden quipped.

Houki responds, "Raiden, you baka..."

Houki's face was somewhat scarlet red under the fireworks. However, it wasn't because she was shy, but because she was her arm around her now confessed lover, she felt happy. At peace.

WARNING – LEMON!

It was late. The festival had just about wrapped up and people were starting to leave. The stalls had sold the last remnants of their products and were also closing up. The fireworks show had also ended, concluding the celebration.

Houki allowed Raiden to stay at her shrine for the night. But while Raiden was making some tea for the two of them, Houki was wondering madly of what on earth she did. She had just invited a boy into her home, her own recently confessed lover of all people. She even told him that he can stay at her place for the night.

She wondered why she did that. Why on earth would she allow the blind man who confessed his love to her, and her to him, sleep with her on the night of the summer festival? It was madness. Madness, she thought.

And yet, a part of her could not help but feel… excitement? No, that wouldn't be the right word. But somehow, she felt it was… right. Perfect.

"Houki-dono…" Raiden called out. "Tea is ready. Shall I carry it over for you?"

"Ah, thanks, I'll be over in a minute," Houki said as she finishes putting on something more comfortable and puts on her sleepwear.

Once Houki enters, she sees Raiden put his sword away and then bring out the futon. Surprisingly, when Houki asked to sleep at her place for the night, she realized that there were no guest rooms. There was only Yukiko's and hers. Half of her saw that there was no other choice but the other half was both excited and bashful, sleeping with the man she loves so much.

She sits near the futon having some tea to calm down her nerves. Raiden soon joins her.

"What's eating you?" asked Raiden as he sat next to her.

"Just processing," Houki said. "So much has happened in such a short amount of time. So many transfer students from around the world, being attacked by unknown IS, me getting an IS… I can't help but think this is the beginning of our troubles."

"It's a bit of a hectic feeling, huh?" asked a smiling Raiden.

Houki nods, knowing that with all the crazy stuff that has happened so far in the year, her life was either more exciting or got more frightening. Especially since she was involved in quite a few scary situations.

That's when Houki scooches over and hugs Raiden's right arm, much to his surprise. But he didn't seem too bothered by it.

"What's with you all of a sudden?" asked Raiden.

"Nothing~ Ehehe…" Houki chuckles, savoring the moment and the silence. Until it was broken.

"You're like a big cat!" Raiden teases, patting her head.

And he just killed the mood. "Mou! I'm wanting to be comforted!"

Raiden then hugs her, to her surprise. "Ah, so we've traded places, that we have."

A surprised Houki asks as she looks up at his face while embracing his warmth and smell. "Eh? You mean… I comfort you…?"

"Yeah, that's right. Shall we close the door? It is getting late."

Houki nods as she gets up and closes the door to her bedroom, shutting it gently without making noise.

But just as Houki turns around, she feels Raiden behind her basking in her smell, his hands around her waist before they go upwards and grasp her breasts. Although Houki felt bashful and surprised, she didn't fight back.

But that's when Raiden slowly begins to take off her yukata while licking her neck.

"Ah… hey. Raiden… I'm all… sweaty. I… I should really take a bath first…" Houki moaned. "I feel sweaty from the festival."

Raiden then teases. "Shall we take one together?"

"No way!" She screamed. "That's way too embarrassing!"

"But we did kiss at the beach remember?" asked Raiden. "And we did kiss again tonight under the fireworks."

"B-B-But that's different!" Houki said covering herself up. "Aah, why are you so quick to strip me?"

"Then let's make tonight even more special."

Raiden then lunges himself forward, kissing Houki on the lips before taking the rest of the upper part of her yukata off. Her breasts were exposed as Raiden soon latches onto her left breast to her shock. She didn't hate this but she was pretty embarrassed.

But that is when she feels his fingers down, to her wet core beneath her lower part of her yukata.

"HYAH!" She yelps.

Her moans to continue to echo as Raiden slowly kisses himself down to Houki's wet core, getting a feel of how wet it is. Her hands grasp his head like she was trying to stop him.

"Ah! No… I'm so sweaty… You can't lick there…"

Despite her protests, Raiden wastes no time licking her down below. It was shaven completely, which made him all the more hungry as he digs his tongue deeper into her.

"Ah~! Ah!~ Y-You're licking me so gently… Haa!" Houki yelped in her state of pleasure and lust.

Raiden then opens up her entrance wider. "Hm? Not enough?"

That is when he decides to introduce his fingers into her from behind.

"Ah!" She yelped, feeling both Raiden's tongue and fingers into her wet entrance. "Aah… don't suck it… N-No~… It's… too much…! If you… put your fingers in… Ah!~ And… suck it… at the same time…. Ah~ Ah!~"

But this makes Raiden go deeper into her. He knew it and he wanted it. And he could sense that Houki was nearing her limits of her first climax of pleasure.

"I'm… cum…ming!" She screamed. "Ah! AAAAHN!"

*PSHH*

Houki soon reaches her climax, releasing her clear essence into Raiden's mouth as he gulps it greedily. It was the first time Houki ever felt like this. In fact, she liked it, though because of her tsundere nature, she would deny it.

"S…Stop…" Houki pleaded, feeling herself caught in Raiden's arms.

"So… you came?" asked Raiden.

After a brief silence, Houki nods. "…Yeah."

*CHUU*

Raiden kisses Houki on the forehead but the samurai girl realizes that Raiden was still in his yukata.

"Raiden too…" Houki said as her right hand slowly travels inside his yukata before eventually reaching down in the hem of his pants and grab something hard. "I want you to feel good…"

Houki soon grasps on what felt like his shaft, rubbing it in her hand. Her lust now overtaking her, her purity as a shrine maiden now forever tainted by a man she loved, she prayed to the gods that this was the man for her. That she would have no regrets in engaging such illicit and bashful activities.

Raiden grunts and moans like a lion, getting use to Houki's hand gently yet firmly grasping his shaft down below and jerking him off.

"If you don't cum… I won't feel satisfied…"

Raiden understood, deciding it was enough foreplay. "Then, come on."

Houki felt herself lifted by her bare butt. "Aah!"

Without warning, Houki soon feels her wet entrance now being poked by Raiden's own wet shaft. She trembled at first but with her body no longer resisting, it was like it wanted inside of her.

"Ngh… Aah~ It's… going in…" She said.

"Do you feel even more sensitive now that you've already cum?" Raiden asked before lowering Houki onto him.

"H…How did you… AAAHH~!" Houki screams as she feels Raiden inside of her. Her hymen breaks as she arches her back, blood spurting out of her core.

"Easy, relax," Raiden said. "We'll take it slow, that we will."

"It's pulling me in…" Houki said in her ecstasy. "Amazing…"

She kisses the blind boy passionately, but that made Raiden have second thoughts about going slow as he goes at a medium pace of speed, thrusting his hips upward into Houki.

"Ah!~ AH!~ You said you'd go slow!" She cried.

"Slow, eh?" asked Raiden as he turns Houki over on all fours. "Like this?"

And like an animal in heat, he goes slowly making it more romantic as Houki releases her moans. Her back arches just as Raiden licks her spine, his hands grasping her breasts and rubbing them like she was a bovine.

"Aaah!~ Raiden… I can't… Even when it's slow, it feels… so…"

"So what…?"

"My body feels weird."

"Painful?"

Houki nods as her moans get more and more louder. Thank goodness Yukiko does not hear them as her bedroom was farther away from hers. "Hey, Raiden… does it feel good?" She asks.

"Yeah…" He answered. "Spread your legs more."

"W-Why?" She asked. "I… feel so weak."

Raiden then spreads them for her. "Ah! Don't spread them!"

"But that way I can go deeper this way," Raiden said as Houki turns her face around. "Do you like going deeper?"

"Eh? Well…"

"Then let's make you feel better."

And with one big thrust on an even faster pace, Raiden goes deeper into Houki.

Houki scmreams in both pain and pleasure. "Ah! S-Stop! Aah!"

"Houki, Houki~!" Raiden yelled as he grunts and growls in his thrusts like a lion.

"R-Raiden… Aaah!~ If you… keep going, I'll…"

Her hands are soon grabbed from behind and held together. She is brought upwards, her back vertical to Raiden's chest, as one of his hands bounds her hands while the other massages her breasts.

"I…I'm feeling weird…" She said.

"That's a good thing," Raiden responded.

Raiden keeps on going, thrusting in and out of Houki as her screams get more and more louder. Her mind begins to feel clouded, drowning herself in the pleasure Raiden was providing. If anyone from the Academy ever found out that the sister of Tabane Shinonono had slept with the 2nd male IS pilot and Hitokiri Kingslayer on top of that, a powder keg would explode violently. And their Academy life would be turned into one of those cheesy school romance dramas that neither of them watch.

Raiden however feels his climax was near.

"Houki… I'm going to—"

"R-Raiden… Raiden~!"

*PSSH*

And with one mighty last thrust does Raiden reach the inner womb of Houki, spraying his entire essence into her and painting her walls white.

Houki screams as she feels Raiden's essence burst inside of her, already overfilling her womb and her entrance. Her core tightens down on his shaft, unintentionally releasing more of his essence into her as he fires more. They felt they were on cloud nine, and this night was just perfect for one of romance and passion.

The two were still for what seemed like days, staying in the same position. Neither of them letting go of one another.

"Houki-dono?" Raiden turns her head gently but then feels something wet from her face. And coming from her eyes.

They were tears and it shocked Raiden.

"W-What's wrong?" He asked frantically. "Was it really so bad? Oro?"

That's when Houki, still conscious it seemed, leans into Raiden's chest, looking like she was hiding her face from him.

"Houki-dono?"

"Raiden…"

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Houki shakes her head. "N-No. It's not that… Umm… it just… felt good the whole time… And I just felt so weak… so… My tears just leaked out…"

Raiden sighs in relief as he holds her in. "I see… I guess I didn't need to be worried after all, that I did not."

With that said, Raiden brings her to the floor on top of the futon, to her shock. Luckily, Houki reconvenes as she looks up with a smile to the man she loves.

"But I think that now… I understand how you feel," She said.

"Huh? About what?"

Houki, seeing as how she then got embarrassed on the subject, then tries to forget it. "No, it's fine."

But Raiden pressed the issue. "What is it?"

"Umm… I was just thinking about it, and I figured we must be thinking the same thing… That you love me too…"

Houki looks into Raiden with a smile of peace and joy on her face. It showed that she really did not regret what happened tonight. The festival, the confession, and even their first time making love.

She scooches underneath Raiden as he overlooks her, her arms wrapped around his neck as she kisses him gently.

But silence and a smile was all Houki got from her lover, and it kind of ticked her off.

"Oi! Why do you never say anything at times like this?" She asked rather poutingly.

"Do you need words right now?" asked a teasing Raiden.

"Mou," She responds. "You don't get it."

"I love you too, Houki."

With one last kiss, Raiden scooches over and brings Houki to him. Houki, feeling tired after that passionate night, now sleeps in the arms of her beloved, his warmth filling up her nostrils as she takes in his smell.

It was truly a perfect night of the summer festival.

To start off on this OVA, we have Raiden relaxing in his cabin in Yamanashi for the summer. Yes, I am still using that cabin from the previous story but with a couple of modifications added to it. One of them being the Honda Accord and the Honda Super Cub motorbike on the side. We brought back Liu King-sang, who reveals another side to himself other than just being a Triad of the Righteousness Union and a secretive male IS pilot. he is also a car junkie, who loves fast cars and loves racing.

The video call between Raiden, Miriam, and Chifuyu was really inspired by Mass Effect 3, after the Citadel Coup mission. To those wondering though, the relation between Miriam and Chifuyu is strictly professional. They respect one another for their skills and talents but they are not close friends. They're mutual acquaintances who each have to deal with a certain bounty hunter that can get on their nerves. But enough on that. With Hina dead, Natasha Fairs amnesiac, the Silver Gospel in disrepair, and the Kurogasa incident beyond salvage, theories as to what is going on in the world right now are all that our characters have at the moment.

And I know many of you are wondering "Why did you use the name Shockwave for Nobuo Iwasaki?" "Did you really have to put in another Transformers reference?"

The answers are yes and yes. Because due to Izuru not giving out much information regarding Phantom Task in who they are and what their overall goals are, I have decided to make my own version of it. And that is to make them similar to the Decepticons. If the Archon, the leader of Phantom Task, is The Fallen, then Nobuo Iwasaki, whom we last heard from the VTS chapter, could be considered its Shockwave, a cold and mad scientist who relies solely on logic. Where does that lead its other members? They will be revealed in due time for their proper roles. One thing I want to point out though: NOBODY HAS THE DECEPTICON SYMBOL ENGRAVED ON THEIR INFINITE STRATOS!

I just wished that somebody somewhere makes a crossover of Transformers and Infinite Stratos. I mean, I can definitely see the potential in that crossover. Just depends on which era of the Transformers one wishes to use with Infinite Stratos.

Cut down over to the festival scene which had to be modified carefully to ensure this is focused on Raiden and Houki, to look into the relationship of where they are now. I felt for Houki in the previous story, I did a poor job of why she felt drawn to Raiden so I needed to fix that. And now, with proper reasoning as to why she fell in love with him and why she cares for him more than Ichika, not to mention that she saw his alter ego and it scared her, she has officially become a shipping for Raiden. Plus, as I have mentioned before, she is the Kaoru Kamiya of the story, but with different beginnings.

And finally, it ends with the first lemon of this story between our famed blind protagonist and his paired up girl. To be honest, this may be the only lemon I do for this story considering how there is no harem tag in this story. Ironic considering that this is far from a harem show and there will be jealousy moment from Houki from time to time. i wanted to at least make this story romantic and consensual, unlike previous story where it was just done as a stress reliever.

Next chapter will be the 1st episode of season 2, where not much else will be said other than a water park scene.

Also, for a reminder, credit for the creation of OC Liu-King Sang and his IS Zy-54 Alastor goes to PearlTapioca. Check out his story called Dead Machines and his current work Dead Machines: Reloaded. Yes I did gain permission from him using his OC for this story, and not just for this chapter but also for subsequent future chapters to come.

Like, favorite, follow, and review at your leisure. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.