Chapter 9: Secrets and Motivations
It felt like forever waiting for Charles to exit the bathroom, (if that was even their real name), although they were probably taking longer than usual.
I just sat on the bed in silence, not knowing what to make of the situation. I was looking for a distraction and I guess I got it.
Eventually, I heard the bathroom door from behind me open and close. I turned around and saw Charles walking out, dressed in their usual pajamas which covered their breasts.
They avoided eye contact and walked onto the bed as if nothing had happened.
A silence lingered between us for a few minutes, neither daring to break it.
"So..." I began but didn't know where to continue. Charles gave no reaction.
"Who are you really?" I asked. Charles' face went from a blank expression to a look of sadness.
"Look, Charles," I said, hoping to help him feel less worried.
"I don't know why you said you were a male pilot but I'm sure you had your reasons," My statement only made the agony on Charles' face intensify.
"If you want to tell me I won't tell anyone," By now Charles looked on the verge of tears.
"But it's ok if you don't want to-,"
"no," Charles interrupted me.
"I don't want to keep lying to you," their face showed a look of intense pain, a big contrast to their usual cheerful smile.
"I'll tell you my story, if you'll listen," I nodded looking at Charles patiently.
"I am a girl," she said after taking a second to breathe.
"I was sent here to gather information on your IS,"
"What!" I exclaimed, startling Charles.
"Sorry," I said calming myself, "why were you sent to gather information on my IS,"
"Well, My father is the CEO of Dunois Corporations," my eyes widened at this statement.
"And Dunois Corporations are struggling,"
"Despite having one of the most successful 2nd generation IS units they have made little progress on developing 3rd generation units. Countries are all trying to get ahead in the arms race and aren't willing to easily give away information"
"This has caused many investors to consider pulling out and has made my father desperate. When the news of the Golem attack came, he got an idea."
"He thought that by having me come out as the second male pilot and transfer to the IS academy I could attract more attention to Dunois Corporation as well as spy on students with personal IS units, more specifically, you."
"Yeah because by nature of us being the only two male pilots we would be placed in the same room," I said to which Charles nodded.
"But were you ok with this?" I asked.
"I didn't have a choice in the matter. My fathers word was final," Charles said looking down at the floor.
"What!" I exclaimed in anger. "How could he do that to his own daughter! Force you to lie about your identity and spy on others!"
For a second, Charles looked up at me with a gleam in her eyes but then looked back towards the floor.
"Well, you see," she began, finding it hard to continue.
"I'm his illegitimate daughter. He had an affair with a woman who wasn't his wife but who was my mother. She eventually passed away and my dad didn't want news of his illegitimate daughter spreading so he took me in."
"But," Charles' eyes seemed to lose spirit the more she spoke. "He never really saw me as his daughter. I'm not even registered as his daughter, just some other pilot of Dunois Corporations. I've seen my father face to face only 2 times. The only value I had was that I had a high compatibility with the IS so I could be a test pilot,"
"So what now," I asked in a concerned tone.
"Well since I was discovered I will probably be sent back to France where I will await whatever punishment my father has prepared for me,"
When Charles finished, a silence washed over us. Charles was still looking towards the floor, too ashamed to look at me while I was gritting my teeth and gripping my fists so tightly it felt like I was about to pop a nerve.
"Well I have told you my story, thank you for listening. I feel much better now that the truth is out," Charles said finally looking at me with her violet eyes. "If you want to tell the school administration, I won't blame you,"
"I can't believe it!" I yelled startling Charles.
"How could that man treat his own daughter like a tool! A parent shouldn't do that. They should love their child!" At this point I was filled with rage while Charles was taken aback at my outburst.
"I prefer being an orphan than to have him be the guy I call a father!" After the last statement I took a bit to catch my breath while Charles stared at me with empathy in her eyes.
"Are you an orphan Ichika," she asked. In response I calmed down and stared off into the ground.
"I don't know. I never met my parents," I spoke in a chillingly calm voice.
"Chifuyu-nee just said that they abandoned us. All our life we had to take care of ourselves. I had to learn how to take care of the house as Chifuyu-nee was busy with being an IS pilot. During my teenhood she wasn't home often,"
"Ichika," Charles said looking at me with a sad expression, as if she was about to unleash a river of tears.
"But I'm not angry about that," I said, lifting my head up.
"I love Chifuyu-nee. She worked very hard to support us. She started working at a young age to pay bills and put food on the table. Then once she got into IS piloting, she worked day and night to perfect her craft. She was my hero,"
I was holding back my own tears from falling as a thought reappeared into my head.
"And I," my voice shook.
"I cost her the second Mondo Grosso," I dropped my head down, straining my eyes to prevent tears from escaping.
"Is that what Laura was referring to?" Charles asked.
"Yeah," I murmured, still staring at the ground.
"What happened?" Charles asked seemingly on instinct before realizing the nature of her question.
"Ah, sorry! I don't mean to-"
"No, it's ok," I interrupted.
"You shared your story, it's only fair that I share mine,"
I took a moment to prepare myself. By the time I started speaking Charles was listening attentively.
"It happened when I was 12,"
"I was coming home from school, excited to watch the finals of the Mondo Grosso. When I arrived home a noticed a black van parked near the house but I was in a rush and didn't think much of it,"
"I rushed to the door hurried to unlock it and that's when everything went dark,"
Charles looked at me with a pained expression. As if she was feeling my pain.
"The next thing I remembered is waking up in darkness. I couldn't see and my whole body was tied up to a chair. I can still remember the feel of the cold metal chains," I got shivers as I said that.
"I remember feeling very scared and confused. I didn't know where I was or what happened. I tried calling out for Chifuyu-nee but my mouth was gagged," I started tightening my hand into a fist.
"After what felt like forever I started to hear sounds, loud sounds. I heard explosions, screaming, and the sound of an IS flying. This only furthered my fear and confusion,"
"Eventually, I felt my body being freed and my blindfold was removed,"
"The first thing I saw was Chifuyu-nee in her full IS suit and my nightmare was finally over,"
"But then," the grip in my hand increased.
"I learned that Chifuyu-nee had abandoned the match. The media was stunned and she gave no comment. No one could figure out why she would have abandoned the match, but I knew,"
Silence fell between us.
"If only I was stronger I-"
"Don't say that Ichika!" It was Charles' turn to interrupt me.
I looked up and stared into Charles' now fired up violet eyes.
"There was nothing you could have done. You were hit from behind,"
"Yeah but maybe if I had paid more attention to the van I would could have-"
"You couldn't have! You were a child. They would have caught you anyways,"
"Besides, Chifuyu-nee threw the match to save you because she cared for you! You are just as important to her as she is to you!"
I stared shocked into Charles eyes which were still fired up. I then let out a smile.
"Thank you Charles,"
Charles's expression relaxed into the familiar cheerful smile.
"Thank you, I'm happy I at least met you before leaving,"
"Oh, right!," I exclaimed surprising Charles
"Is there nothing we can do!"
"Is there no way to keep your secret?" Charles' expression then turned to sadness.
"Even if we keep my secret, I'm supposed to report every week what information I have gathered on your IS. If I keep reporting nothing they will eventually tell me to come back,"
Charles' statement was frustrating. They had to find a way of getting around that.
I racked my brain on any solution. There had to be a way. I thought back to what I read about the IS hoping there was some piece of information. It was then that something clicked.
I rushed towards the desk and grabbed one of the books much to Charles' confusion.
I flipped through the pages until I found what I was looking for.
"There!" I exclaimed while showing Charles the page.
"IS Academy Rules and Regulations: Students who are enrolled at the IS academy do not belong to any country or organization," I read.
"And since your father hasn't registered you as his daughter,"
"He can't pull me out as my parent," Charles' expression lightened up.
"Exactly, so you should be safe for at least 3 years,"
Charles by this point began to smile as if she had just won a prize, but then, her expression dropped.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"But if the others find out what will happen to me?" she asked.
"Will I have to live all my life lying?"
"I don't know," I replied truthfully.
"But I'm sure if you explain your situation people will understand. And no matter what happens I will defend you,"
At my last sentence Charles smiled.
"Thank you Ichika, thank you for all your help! And I'm sorry for lying to you,"
"It's ok, I understand," I replied and we both shared a smile.
"Now that you know the truth please don't walk in on me in the bathroom again you pervert!" Charles exclaimed.
"Hey I'm not a pervert I was just trying to give you the shampoo bottle!" I retorted.
"You should have knocked!"
"You should have locked the door!"
We both glared at each other for a moment before breaking out into laughter.
"Yeah I was an idiot for not locking the door," she laughed.
"Yeah what were you thinking Charles,"
"Hey," Charles said in a more serious tone putting a stop to my laughter.
"Whats up?"
"When we're not in public could you call me Charlotte. That's the name my mom gave me,"
"No problem, Charlotte," and we both shared a smile.
Author's Note: Hello again and thank you for reading another chapter. In this one we get an explanation for Charlotte's fake identity. It's mostly the same as in the original except for me adding Ichika explaining his kidnapping. I thought it would be best to include it here as it gives the two of them a better bonding moment.
I know it was a shorter chapter and didn't have any battles but I hope you still enjoyed the dialogue and thank you once again for reading.