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.
OP song: Suara – Hikari (For reference, look up on YouTube Utawarerumono Futari no Hakuoro trailer)
Kimi e no omoi wasurenai you ni (The first scene begins with a pair of hands grasping a red and black ribbon divided by a white line adorned with a pair of gold and silver bells. The camera soon pans out to show the said person grasping that ribbon)
mune fukaku kizamikomu kara (The person holding the ribbon is revealed to be Houki, underwater and in her IS suit as she closes her eyes, keeping the ribbon, revealed to be Akatsubaki in its standby form, close to her heart before the bubbles cover the screen)
(Opening title is introduced as Infinite Stratos 2)
Arifureta hibi wo tobikoete yukeru (Chifuyu watches from the balcony of the IS Academy the sunrise before a gentle wind blows her hair.)
habataku yuuki wo motteru (The sun's ray hits her eyes before she adjusts her sight)
Mada minu sekai ni tobidashite yukeba (Tabane Shinonono travels via a carrot-shaped airplane, colored in orange with a green tip, as it travels across the skies and she heads towards the moon)
nanika ga kitto matteiru (The camera pans over to the moon before it shifts down to Houki in her IS Akatsubaki, facing forward as her hair is blown by the wind)
Tamerau hodo no kizu wo oottemo (A blue meteor-like object falls to the arena of the IS Academy, creating an explosion of water, before revealing Tatenashi Sarashiki in her IS, Mysterious Lady, as she twirls her spear as the lake water falls like rain)
akiramenaide subete ukeireyou (Kanzashi Sarashiki appears in a holographic world in her IS, Uchigane Nishiki, while holographic data surrounds her)
Kimi e no omoi wasurenai you ni (Camera zooms down to a battlefield just beginning between IS Golems and the gang. Laura is the first to attack as she descends and slices a Golem with her wrist blades before using her cables followed by her rail gun. Rin parries a Golem with her Souten Gagetsu before taking off its head in a spin)
mune no naka fukaku kizamitsukeru(Ichika appears to take out one Golem before he dodges an incoming attack and dismantles another. The next scene cuts to Charlotte and Cecilia prepping their sniper rifles to fire.)
mezasu mirai wo yasashiku terashite (Raiden and Madoka, without their IS, engage in a close quarters weapon combat, Raiden using the Sakabatō and Madoka using the Mugenjin. After a couple of hits, Raiden is thrown high into the air from another hit from Madoka before he backflips and deploys his IS and fires his ion blasters at Madoka. Madoka, in turn, dodges while activating her IS, Black Knight, and flies up to Raiden to engage him again with her fusion cannon on her right arm deployed)
hikari hanatsu hoshi no you ni (Madoka and Raiden clash, creating a violent explosion before the next scene switches over to Luxembourg ten years ago, where Hitokiri Kingslayer stands by the steps to the destroyed Royal Palace, his back to the camera as Luxembourg is enshrouded in flames by Phantom Task, with a massive warship looming overhead as its IS pilots are deployed like a squad of fighters)
(Miriam Walker is shown in front of the CIA headquarters building in Washington DC as the camera moves upwards. Akane Fujimoto is shown on Omega, overlooking one of the poor districts from her apartment, with a cigarette in her mouth. Squall Meusel is shown in her bath robe sitting on the edge of her bed smirking at the camera, with Autumn sleeping naked in the background. Edea Crownsworth, the Archon of Phantom Task, sits upon her throne overlooking the world within a spaceship. Chifuyu is then shown in the deep recesses of the Academy, looking at the White Knight IS kept in storage and locked down, her hand on the glass)
(Raiden is shown next as he turns around with his Sakabatō before sheathing it before he is replaced with the title of Infinite Stratos 2.)
May 12 of the Reiwa Era. Almost 24 hours have passed since Raiden had departed from the Academy. And the atmosphere of the Academy was very moody. Despite what may seemed like a normal day on the outside, every student, especially the first years, were feeling disquieted.
The class of 1-A were feeling it the most though. The atmosphere felt so cold and depressing. Despite Yamada-sensei's efforts to keep the day moving forward as usual, not even she was immune to the effects of Raiden gone. Even Honne Nohotoke, the sleepy girl in the class, felt sad throughout the whole day because her favorite playmate was gone.
As for how everyone knew Raiden left, it was due to finding Houki that night. One of the teachers found Houki crying outside in front of the Academy and informed Chifuyu. This led the Brunhilde to easily deduce what has happened considering the recent events of the Minister of Defense's assassination and the offer made prior.
And boy did her mood change to the point that despite teaching class today, she was struggling with her emotions internally, trying desperately hard not to take it out on her students.
After Houki was found and brought back to her dorm room, no one could rouse her up for breakfast or for classes. She missed the whole day, and it was so quiet inside. All Houki could do was lay in the sheets, crying quietly as her memory plays the events of last night. A night she never wanted to experience ever again but could not find a way to get out of it.
AT LIU'S APARTMENT…
On the couch in Liu's mostly restored apartment, the Triad was with Rin who came to check up on him and relay the news of Raiden's disappearance.
"So, he's gone huh?" asked Liu as he watches Rin apply fresh bandages on his body.
"Yeah," Rin said somberly. "Just up and left in the middle of the night. I heard Houki is not taking it well considering he spoke to her before leaving."
"If I were there, I would've socked him in the jaw and tie him to a chair."
"I'm sure you would," Rin said as she finishes the last wrappings. "Your wounds still need to heal from Akari, especially that shoulder injury."
Liu however brushes it off. "It's fine. The next time I see her, though, I'm gonna pump lead and copper into her skull."
Rin had nothing to say in response to that. She knew of Liu to be someone who wants payback for whatever has happened to him. Not that she already knew what it was.
"If you're going to Kyoto, then I won't be going to help you," Liu revealed.
Rin however cocked her head. "Why not?"
"Gotta take care of some unfinished business. It's personal, really. I don't want to drag you and the others into it, especially if you're concerned for Raiden's well-being."
"What's this unfinished business?" asked Rin curiously.
But Liu responds vaguely. "Like I said, it's personal. Got a big grudge on a former member of the Union. Can't just let them roam around free. That's all I'm gonna say."
Rin nods in acceptance, knowing that it is best not to ask more. Especially if it has got Liu all wound up.
"Does Chifuyu have a plan to get Raiden back?" asked Liu.
"Not that I know of. She's discussing that with the Student Council President about it."
"I'm sure she will come up with something."
"I hope so," Rin said. "We're gonna get him back, one way or another."
Cecilia and Charlotte were in the cafeteria for some tea time. Despite having their sweet treats and English tea on the table, they couldn't bother to have a bite nor a drink.
"How could he just do this?" Cecilia asked. "Just up and leave and say goodbye to Houki-san?"
Charlotte didn't have an answer for that. In fact, she did not know what to say in response or even to start a conversation.
"First that Saitō Akari, then Minister is assassinated, and now Raiden leaves," Cecilia sums up the past week in a nutshell. "Everything is just happening so quickly."
"I knew Raiden to be generous and kind hearted, but to say goodbye to Houki-san in the middle of the night like that is so awful," Charlotte replied.
"Those two are awfully close, are they not?" asked Cecilia.
"Y-Yeah," Charlotte replied. "They've shared the same dorm room after I entered into the Academy disguised as a boy."
"I do wonder though if they are just friends or roommates to one another?"
"I'm not so sure. I often see Houki with him wherever they are, though it seems like they are keeping whatever they have going a secret, knowing of the rules of the Academy. Have you checked on her, Cecilia?"
"No I haven't. You?"
"I tried a couple times, but I didn't get a response," Charlotte admitted.
Cecilia's mood grows further forlorn. They didn't see Houki at all in class today, learning of what happened the next morning by their teacher.
On the rooftop of the Academy, where the gang usually meet for lunch, Laura was on a international phone to Germany. Specifically to Schwarzer Hase, but it was nothing about manga or love advice. This call was different, more serious as the cadets were working hard.
"Clarissa, anything?" asked Laura as she answers her call.
"Nein," The response was, which means no in German. "We've checked everywhere on all traffic cameras, satellite images, phone calls, and even IS signature. But so far we have found nothing."
"Keep trying. Hitokiri Kingslayer cannot just disappear off the map."
"We have one other option though," Clarissa said. "We should make contact with FEISAR since they have a building over in Kyoto."
Laura, having heard the name before, nods, "Agreed. Call up Lola and drop my name. She knows me personally and will always put in a good word."
"Lola?" asked Clarissa. "But… she is dead."
"So I thought too."
"What do you mean?"
"I received a note from FEISAR lately, from Trixie," Laura revealed. "And what she sent me was classified on a very encrypted channel. But it turns out that the squad is alive."
"Alive?" asked a skeptical Clarissa. "That shouldn't be possible unless-"
Laura also had the same feeling. "Jackson."
Clarissa was stunned to hear the name. She knew of Jake Jackson, the man in question, by reputation. But she had never meant him personally. However, what she did know was that Laura had a connection to him long ago.
"Very well, Captain," Clarissa acknowledged. "I'll let them know and hopefully they will call the Kingslayer to them."
MEANWHILE…
*BANG*
A telephone is thrown smashed to the wall hard, shattering it into pieces as its contents spill over the floor.
"He dared to fuck with me, by leaving on purpose without saying anything?!" asked an angry Chifuyu.
*BAM*
A fist is slammed to the table as Chifuyu looks out the window of her office. She left a rather big dent in it, but anymore force and she might have just broken it in two. Behind her was her little brother, Ichika, and Yamada-sensei. Both of them bearing mixed feelings of understanding and fear since they relayed the news of Raiden leaving the Academy.
Ichika wanted to calm down his sister, but Yamada-sensei forbade it, knowing that Chifuyu needs to vent a little and that this was the only way to do it. Although Ichika had never seen his sister so angry before like this. At least it was not directed toward him.
As Chifuyu takes her seat to relax after making a mess of her office, she looks out her window and then asks without turning around, "How is Shinonono?"
Yamada-sensei answers, "She hasn't shown up to class at all today. Nobody has seen her leave her room."
"I've tried calling her out during lunch, but she isn't responding," Ichika said.
Chifuyu sighs heavily. "Keep an eye on her. She was the only one whom Raiden spoke to before he left. She's taking this very hard on herself."
"What about Raiden, Chifuyu-nee?" asked Ichika.
Not bothering to correct him this time, Chifuyu answers, "Leave that to me. Now go check on your classmate."
Yamada-sensei ushers Ichika out of the office as the two of them go to find Houki, leaving Chifuyu alone. The Brunhilde soon pulls out from her secret stash in her drawer some hard scotch, GlenDronach Revival 15-year-old scotch to be exact. The best kind.
As Chifuyu pours a drink and gulps it down before pouring another, she looks at a map on her screen and sees a satellite image of Kyoto. Both Phantom Task and Raiden were going to be there. It will be Raiden against his former employers and despite being powerful, he was no one man army. He cannot handle the most powerful terrorist organization alone, especially if Edea shows up.
But soon, that gives her an idea. An idea that officially could blend well within school regulations but in reality, make it a mission by her and the Personal IS pilots to go retrieve Raiden before Phantom Task defeats and captures him again.
And if their mission succeeds, she is going to have a personal talk with Raiden. A very personal one. And it won't just be lectures.
At the club dojo, a still depressed Houki, wearing her pajamas, was laying on the floor with her back at the wall, looking at the door she opened up. She saw the sunny day outside and all she could do was stare at it. Tears were still visible in her eyes as she remained like a lifeless doll.
From her view though, she sees two butterflies flying together and around each other like they were mates. But those butterflies, despite not being fireflies form that night, brought back that dreadful memory of last night.
'I couldn't chase him. For some reason I don't understand. But at that moment, my body was paralyzed by Raiden saying farewell. And now, the paralysis continues.'
"Raiden…" She whispers quietly to herself, still mourning.
The doors to the dojo soon open and from it were Ichika and Yamada-sensei who saw Houki's plight.
"Houki, are you all right?" Ichika asked as he rushed to his friend.
"What's wrong?" asked Yamada-sensei.
No response though, as if Houki could not find a way to answer back.
"Ichika-san, let's bring her back to her dorm room," Yamada-sensei suggested.
"Alright," He nodded as he takes Houki by the hand and leads her out of the dojo. Strangely enough, she was compliant and did not fight back against the grip nor the pull.
By the time the trio got back to her dorm room, Yamada-sensei tucked her into bed while Ichika cooked up some simple rice porridge, easily made and ready to be eaten as Houki had not eaten anything for the past twelve hours.
"Here, Houki," Ichika offered. "Some rice porridge, like we used to make when we were kids. It will be bad if you don't eat at all."
But Houki softly replies, "I don't want it."
"Don't say that, Houki-san," Yamada-sensei pleaded. "Ichika-kun did his best to make it."
Again, Houki replies, "I don't want it."
"Houki, it is not good to mope around forever," Ichika worriedly said. "Everyone is concerned for you. Please, cheer up and eat."
Houki's anger was slowly starting to rise. "I said, I don't want it!"
"But Houki—"
"I'm all right, don't bother me!" She shouted so suddenly. But then she shakily next says, "Please leave me alone."
Before she could say more, her door opens up and what shows is a rather stern Tatenashi, looking at Houki.
"I'm shocked," The student council president said. "You're still here?"
Houki however, was not in the best of moods. "What are you here for, Tatenashi-san?"
Tatenashi, knowing that simple words of encouragement won't be enough to rouse up her former partner from the tag team tournament, decides to play the villain and initiate something akin to a cat fight but with words.
"Of course, to laugh at the fox girl who was dumped by Raiden!" Tatenashi mocks before chuckling.
But that shocks Ichika. "Oi, Tatenashi-san, that's not—"
"You were left behind, same as me," Houki retorted back at the blue cat.
But Tatenashi defends herself saying," Don't say I'm the same as this girl who just sits and weeps!"
"I don't feel like doing anything. You don't understand, Tatenashi-san."
"You don't feel like doing anything? What do you want to do most right now?"
Houki startles and hesitates over her words, like she has nothing to say. She was about to say Raiden's name, but the mere mention of it is still enough to make her remember last night.
"If it is Raiden, then that's what you should do," Tatenashi said.
"But I…"
"You're afraid that Dear Raiden will be cold to you," The SCP deduces before she pulls something out of her pocket. An aqua crystal. "This aqua crystal here? I made it privately and specifically for Raiden so that it can imbue his sakabatō. After his fight with Saitō Akari, I felt that he needed a better edge against opponents like her. And I'm sure that it's something he needs right now against Squall Meusel. But it's no good leaving it with you, because you just sit and weep. I'll hand it to Ichika instead. I'm sure that Dear Raiden will remember me when he gets this. Even if he forgets about some fox girl from somewhere."
"Then you can go hand it to him yourself instead of relying on others! Why don't you go to Kyoto yourself?"
"Too bad for you, Houki-chan, I don't have as much free time as you do. As the student council president and a second year student, I don't have time to go on trips."
"So, you choose the IS Academy over Raiden? Is that all your feelings amount to, Tatenashi-san?"
However, upon being asked a question taken too far, Tatenashi swiftly turns around with a right hand ready to slap Houki in the face.
*PANG*
But Houki, despite her state of mind, catches it with her right hand.
"Did you forget that I am still a kendo student of Kamiya Kasshin-Ryū?" Houki declared. "Don't underestimate me!"
But Houki didn't see that in the way she positioned herself to stop the slap, another one was coming onto her right side. Having oversighted this, she braces herself for the hit, but Tatenashi purposefully stops mere inches away.
And her next choice of words were of displeasure. "No, you don't underestimate me!"
She then takes Houki by the chin to have her look at her eyes directly, her expression serious. "I came to Dear Raiden in the first place because I needed his help with my little sister. And when I learned of his background before he even came to the Academy, it was my duty to ensure he didn't fall back into his old self. Even if it meant having feelings for someone whom I knew had already chosen another. Look, this is the path I have chosen to embrace. And Dear Raiden was the very person who showed me this path."
Tatenashi could then remember the words that Raiden had told her little sister weeks ago. Truth be told, she was eavesdropping on her little sister whenever she interacted with Ichika or Raiden, bar a few other moments where she didn't. And she always stayed close in the shadows to ensure her presence was hidden.
'Kanzashi-dono, it's not my place to tell you what to be or how to fix your feelings, that it is not. Only you can change that. But at the end of the day, no matter how big the gap between you and your sister is, in the end, you two are family. And family is what matters most, is it not? An older sister cannot live in a world where their younger one dies before them, that they cannot.'
Those words had never left both of the Sarashiki sisters. It was easy to forget that the two of them are family despite the gap in their knowledge and skills. But even so, family was never determined by skills or blood, but by heart. The last sentence Raiden spoke left a permanent engrave into Tatenashi's heart and it was also the reason why she admittedly loved the lion.
But her current situation with Houki, someone who also loves Raiden, leaves her with a choice to make for the good of all.
"Then, no matter what happens, even if Dear Raiden does not love me, I will keep moving forward on the path I have chosen. That means I am doing everything I can, with feelings for him in my heart!"
She then releases her grip of Houki's teary face but has more to say. "I don't want someone who only throws fits and tantrums telling me what my feelings amount to!"
Houki lowers her head as more tears pour down her face. Her hands grip the bed sheets as her mind swirls in what Tatenashi had told her.
The student council president though could not believe it. "First you throw a fit and take it out on others, now you cry. You really want to be pampered, don't you?"
Tatenashi turns around to take her leave. But a sorrowful Houki speaks up to stop her in place.
"You'll never understand, Tatenashi-san. You'll never understand how I feel after being told farewell face to face! You'll never understand!"
And there it was. The root of Houki's sorrow. Last night was something she had been replaying over and over again in her head. Of how her boyfriend had said goodbye. Something that no girlfriend should have ever experienced if it was unplanned and unexpected.
A sympathetic Tatenashi stops and merely turns around, neither angry nor disappointed. "You're right. But I can say that to you, as well."
And that's when her own tears start to show themselves. "You'll never understand how I feel, since I didn't get that farewell. Of everyone here at the Academy, you're the only one who is spared of that feeling."
Houki looks up, surprised to hear Tatenashi say that.
"Before speaking like you know so much, put your own feelings in order."
Houki could only look at Tatenashi's back in surprise. Despite the harsh words, she realized that she was right. Houki didn't know what it felt like to not have that goodbye unlike Tatenashi, who was hurting more than her. In hindsight, Houki was lucky to be the one Raiden said goodbye to. Everyone else didn't receive that same farewell.
That kind of feeling left everyone heartbroken, angry for some. And for the student council president, who had also loved Raiden, was feeling both of those feelings.
After stepping outside, Tatenashi closes the door and sees Chifuyu by the side, her back to the wall and her arms crossed over like she was listening in.
"You finished talking to her?" asked Chifuyu.
"Yes," Tatenashi nods as tears roll down her face. "I trust you to finish this."
The Brunhilde nods as she enters into the room next. But Houki was still in the same position as before, contemplating Tatenashi's words.
'You'll never understand how I feel, since I didn't get that farewell. Of everyone here at the Academy, you're the only one who is spared of that feeling.'
This made Houki realize something important. Something that she could relate to the blue cat on her level.
'Tatenashi… In reality, she wants to leave for Kyoto as soon as possible.'
"What are you wasting time for, Shinonono?" asked Chifuyu in her teacher mode, catching her attention. "Hurry up and get ready!"
"Orimura-sensei…" Houki whispered.
"We're going to Kyoto. We're going to get our classmate back."
"But…"
"No buts, dammit! You're the only one who Raiden said goodbye to, right? Don't you get it? That means that for Raiden, parting with you was the toughest! You have the best chance to bring Raiden back, no matter what anyone says! I had a field trip planned in advance for our class anyway for this. But, in exchange, you have to hand yourself to Raiden and show him your feelings!"
Chifuyu then sums it all up in one question. "And so, Houki Shinonono, do you want to see Raiden or not?"
Houki didn't know what to say. The room was quiet and Ichika and Yamada-sensei said nothing, allowing Houki the chance to speak from her heart of what she wanted.
"I…I… I want to see him. I…" Tears begins to spill down again. "I want to see Raiden after all!"
"All right! Then it's settled! We leave in 24 hours so get your things ready. I have already booked an inn for the entire class of the trip."
"What?" asked a stunned Houki.
"You didn't think I was really going to leave him to do his own thing, did you?" asked Chifuyu who smirked slightly. "We're going to get him back, no matter what."
Houki, for the first time, felt a warm smile creep upon her face. With renewed hope and encouragement, no thanks to Tatenashi's harsh words, she must look to the future now and meet with Raiden in Kyoto. With her choice made and her feelings in order, she regains her strength and pride as a samurai and leaps out of bed.
She was going to save Raiden and help him fight Phanotom Task. And even if this earns her his disapproval for going after him, she will have no regrets of the choice she made.
Meanwhile at a fancy restaurant, Tabane sits as she enjoys her meal, which were some neatly cooked ribs glazed with sauce and garnish. And served with vintage wine.
"Mmm! This meat tastes great!" Tabane exclaims as she takes another bite of the ribs. "Ah, wine!"
Her mechanical bunny ears flap as she enjoys her meal. Yet sitting across from her was none other than Squall Meusel, smiling like she too was enjoying the show despite no plate for her.
"Do you like it, Dr. Tabane?" asked Squall.
"Well, aside from that soup with the soporifics in it!" Tabane replied nonchalantly.
"So, have you thought about providing IS for Phantom Task?"
Tabane replies in the same goofy manner with a laugh, "I don't wanna! That'd be a pain! Oh, get me some cake!"
Squall, expecting such an outcome, then replies, "Then how about this?"
She soon snaps her fingers…
*SNAP*
*KACHING*
And the sound of a gun was heard behind Tabane and brought to her head at point blank range. Held by none other than Autumn who looked forward to blasting the brains off of the rabbit's skull.
But Tabane, still bearing that smile, takes the knife and fork from the table and throws them at Squall, who dodges to her right. But she did not react in time to see Tabane flip the table onto her.
Then, she swipes the gun out form Autumn's hands and, moving so quickly, palm strikes Autumn in several vital places before kicking her in the stomach and making her crash into a wine set, knocking her out.
"Dear me. Even my body is overpowered at the cellular level," Tabane noted while Squall gets up. "Chi-chan is about the only person who can take me on without a unit."
Gritting her teeth in anger, which was a rare sight from Squall, the wall to her left soon busts open, revealing Silent Zephyrus and M as its pilot, who then points her Star Breaker cannon at Tabane.
"Don't move," Madoka warned.
But Tabane, who was unthreatened by it, examines the IS in question. "That's an interesting IS you're riding!"
Kicking in her instincts, she runs past the range of fire from the Starbreaker Cannon and somehow lands on top of the gun, to Madoka's surprise. She then deactivates her gun as Tabane lands and tries to use her BITS but Tabane easily disposes of them with her bare hands.
Then, with a simple touch to the IS does Tabane disable it and get a look at Madoka's face firsthand as she disables the visor.
And while Madoka was furious of being humiliated and defeated, Tabane could only laugh at seeing Chifuyu's face on this young girl. "What's your name? Do you wanna see if I can guess correctly? Orimura Madoka, is it?"
That was a shock to even Squall herself who was stunned to hear Tabane say the name.
"I got it right!" The rabbit declared happily before she turns around to look at Squall. "Hey, I'd be glad to make a Personal IS for her!"
She then grabs Madoka's hands into hers happily. "So come over to my place! Hey, I can have her, right?"
"Th-That'd be a problem…" Squall said as she stands up. "She is the Archon's heir."
"Come on. You're so stingy. Well, whatever. Hey, Madocchi, what kinda IS do you want? Long-range type? Short-range type? What special armor? Well, I guess we can talk about that later. Madocchi, I'll introduce you to Ku-chan later! All right! We'll have a meal together! Yeah!"
Madoka, like her other two companions, was stunned. First the rabbit was refusing to work with Phantom Task to make more IS for them. Now she is willing to make one for Madoka all because she has the face of Chifuyu.
But this experience led her mind to an event prior to this encounter. To her previous conversation with the Archon only a few days ago.
FLASHBACK BEGINS…
Madoka was in her room back at the condo, kneeling in front of the hologram of her master, the Archon Edea Crownsworth, who sat on her throne with her back facing her apprentice.
"Master, do you have connections to Dr. Tabane Shinonono?" asked Madoka.
Edea answers, "I do indeed. Though she and I rarely talk these days. Why do you ask?"
"I want to set up a meeting with her," Madoka revealed.
Edea asks cautiously yet curiously, "Why?"
"Because right now, I am weak. I defeated Raiden during the attack at the Academy, only to be defeated in turn by him during my attempted assassination on Ichika Orimura. And it's my right to do whatever it takes to gain power to destroy him by any means necessary, isn't it? Master?!"
Edea calmly replies, "Very well. I will have Squall make the arrangements. But try to use this as a learning experience."
FLASHBACK ENDS…
Whatever learning experience Edea wanted Madoka to have from this is unknown. But in her heart, she knew that the only way to have this new Personal IS was to let Tabane Shinonono do the work for her. If she was going to have her revenge on Raiden and gain more power, then this is the way.
There is not a whole lot to say for this chapter as it was more so focused on Houki and her depression from Raiden leaving her. It is the shortest one I have to date in this story, at only 5.7k words. And though short, it was a highly significant one.
For starters, there is everyone's reaction to Raiden leaving so suddenly. Even Liu-King Sang was not immune to it, somewhat. And as much as he would like to go help his samurai friend, he unfortunately has some other business to attend to. Business that will be further explored in the story Dead Machines: Reloaded by the author PearlTapioca. Go check it out.
Now we come to heart of the chapter: Houki and Tatenashi's argument over their feelings for Raiden. I know people are thinking how does Tatenashi have feelings for Raiden if she was not really involved with him in the first place? Remember, she needed the help from both Raiden and Ichika to help his sister Kanzashi during the Tag Team Tournament event. And while officially in the light novel and on the wiki site it is said that Ichika grows closer to Tatenashi than the rest of the girls, I want to make her think that Raiden is the one for her heart, only for her to realize that he was not it. Granted, she does have feelings for Raiden but has to let them go for her sake, Houki's, and Raiden's as the blind samurai had chosen Houki a long time ago.
Next chapter will refocus back onto Raiden and have no involvement of the regular gang at all. However, it will include cooperation with a PMC from a rather entertaining story and whose permission I have to use from the author.
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.