Well, guys. Looks like this fic gets some attention. I have been happy with how things are at my end.
I can only say to get comfy cause this chapter is going to be a long one. Something during writing told me that. Given the number of words we had one evening, I was right.
We are going to have some great summer love in this one.
Also, MarloMora drew out some commissions for me before I wrote this chapter. Check him out on DeviantArt.
One big thank you as usual to our beta author, Ichigo Oga.
I have taken some time to upload this chapter given the fact that the site suffered a near month of no notifications. So that is why this was halted. Also, my beta author had some personal issues going on and that is why this took a while.
He also let me know that he no longer has time to work on the fic. After the next one, 26nd of January, he has to focus on personal things.
It's sad to him go but I understand that those things happen.
Ichigo, it's been a nice ride. And don't be a stranger.
Still, we got it back as a surprise time and this is a nice way to end the year with a Christmas gift to you all.
I believed that IS and Sekirei Brave New World would be the last chapter. Clearly not. Not that I complain. Great way to end this year.
Started on 25/10/2021
Ended on 07/11/2021
Published on 25/12/2021
The sound of two wooden swords clashing echoed over the small courtyard. Both women, dressed in traditional gear, were sparring. The smaller figure was breathing heavily and she could barely stand. The older figure noticed the slip-up and quickly dashed forward.
With a sluggish swipe that was easily avoided, Chifuyu disarmed Houki who found the wooden sword aimed at her throat.
"Point," Ichika said which caused Houki to collapse. The kendo champion had never thought that there was such a large gap. Even with her training and tournaments, it was one huge difference between her and Chifuyu.
The Brunhilde had taken it upon herself to train Houki to the standards that she expected from her future sister (or daughter)-in law. It made the training something else.
"That is enough for one day." Chifuyu could hear how her brother announced it and the steel in his voice. The oldest Orimura wanted to protest but she found that Ichika was probably right. They had been fighting for hours now and this was the fifth day straight in the summer. Houki was exhausted and there was nothing she would get by beating the crud out of a tired opponent.
Chifuyu had done that a few times to her siblings but noticed that when they were too tired to continue, they couldn't continue.
Houki's limit was reached and Chifuyu decided that it was enough for the day. Watching the spectacle was Ichika who quickly dashed over to Chifuyu, handing her a bottle of water while he helped Houki sit up. The shrine maiden removed her helmet and Ichika really wished that she could keep in mind what sort of effect that had on him.
"That's true." Looking in the eyes of Houki, Chifuyu found that she could extend her sweetness to another person.
Putting a hand on Houki's shoulder, Chifuyu said, "Don't get so frustrated, Houki. I had a long time to get where I am. So did Ichika and Madoka. We'll bring you up, but it will take a while."
Looking back at Chifuyu, the older woman liked that view in her eyes.
"Well, I got plenty of time because I'm not going anywhere." Chifuyu raised an eyebrow that was enough for Houki to explain. "You gave me the permission to date Ichika. I need your approval to get married. So that is what I am going to do. Earn that approval."
They heard the barking laugh from Joel. The young boy had joined their group and it was the first time in a week they heard him laugh.
Both Joel and Mattheus were forced to spend the summer in Japan instead of going home. Due to their interference with the Silver Gospel, Uncle Sam demanded that Joel hand over the details. A lot of bullshit out of their paygrade, it was decided that the US would drop the charges if Joel found a way to make it work again.
And because the punk could not go anywhere without a legal guardian, it meant that Joel and Mattheus were now at a place that wasn't neutral. Neither of the men was pleased for that and Chifuyu had given the two young men room to vent. She was glad that Mattheus had chosen to walk around the place a lot.
Some minor vandalism might have been caused by him which Chifuyu would neither deny nor confirm.
"Alright, I think that it's enough for one day."
Chifuyu commented while she moved back in. A sympathetic look to Joel was only matched by a furious one.
"Before I see you marrying Ichika, I'll be having one long beard." And with that, Joel went back to his shared room.
Chifuyu watched the boy leave and somewhere, Chifuyu was relieved.
"Alright, Ichika made a point. I'm going to take a nice long bath. Madoka, would you like to help me with my back?" Before the words even left her mouth, Madoka veered up when she heard that.
"Of course." Houki was about to ask the question but when she saw the look on her boyfriend's face (she always got giddy when she felt that knowledge) she figured that it was better she didn't ask about it.
"Chifuyu-nee, can I try a massage out on Houki?" The shrine maiden began to blush like crazy when she heard that. A massage? From Ichika?
'My, how scandalous. How lecherous. How incredibly … incredibly … incredibly appealing.'
Chifuyu looked back to her brother who had already taken up Houki in a bridal carry. She too would love to be carried like that one day and if Ichika would do that, he would have to be flying his Infinite Stratos unit.
"I trust you." That was all that was said while Madoka followed her sister like a loyal puppy. Madoka loved taking baths with her older sister. It would always mean that they would play and wash each other. It was always a lot of fun.
Meanwhile, Ichika carried his girl upstairs. He would take the privacy of his room.
The girl realized that they haven't been in each other's room before, not even when they were children.
She remained quiet as Ichika kicked the door open.
"I prefer it here than downstairs. Don't want Chifuyu-nee or Mattheus to walk in on us." Ah, always a pragmatic soul. He put her on the bed and then stood up.
"Could you take off your armor? It would make it a lot easier." Houki then realized that she was still in her getup and that Ichika had carried her there. How strong did this guy become? She could certainly do that and even before she had to ask, Ichika had turned around. The breastplate went first together with her trousers.
She had noticed that Ichika would look more to her legs than her tits. Funny now that she thought about it. Not that she minded. Ichika wasn't too shallow to choose her, mainly her looks. Beautiful girls were something found easily at the IS Academy. Yet, she won his heart and that was done because of another reason.
It would make it easier for her as well to lay back. When she was just in a shirt and underwear, covered up enough to make sure that he wouldn't see the unmentionables (catching a glimpse didn't count), she called him. But an idea that she had wanted to do for a bit, played again in her treacherous mind. Standing up without a sound, she slipped to him.
Ichika wasn't going to call her. He would just wait patiently until she was done.
Not until she was hugging him from behind. Her arms sneaked around his chest and he was just wearing a wife beater that had been too small since last summer. So just a few layers of clothing, two meshed with sweat, were the only things that stopped him from feeling her breasts pressing on him.
"Something wrong?" He asked while he felt those arms.
"Can I ask you something, Ichika?" The voice wasn't the same. He wanted to turn around but felt that her arms regained their strength. It stopped him from moving.
"Why did you pick me?"
Ah, so there was the question. He was wondering if she would ask him. He could only hope to delay her.
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, in that entire school. I think there must have been a girl that would be a better fit."
Ichika sighed when he heard that.
"Let me be the judge of that. Where is this coming from?" Houki pressed her face into his back. He could hear how uncertain, vulnerable she was. A part of him liked to hear her like that.
"Well, I have been thinking. I'm not very feminine. I got a bit of a temper. I'm a fighter. I really don't have much for me going besides my big breasts and the fact that I'm Shinonono Tabane's little sister."
"Let me cut you off right there. I'll start with the latter. But for that, let me go." Houki let her arms drop and Ichika turned around. Turning around, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pressed a loving, searing kiss on her lips.
She turned red when she felt that.
"Houki," Ichika said when he let her go.
"What do you think about me? I'm the little brother of Chifuyu Orimura. I want to carve out my own name and have been busy on that for a while. And if Chifuyu-nee has her way, you'll carve out your own too." Houki laughed and her mood cleared up.
"Second. Your cup size isn't why I chose you." Houki smiled as he pressed another kiss on her forehead. She found that it made her so loved.
"Third. What do you think that I am? We're both fighters. Mattheus told me that a guy would look for a girl that he recognizes his mother in. If he is right, from all girls I know, sides Madoka which goes without saying, you are the closest one to my sister. Chifuyu-nee is more than just my big sister. In my head, she is my mother figure." Houki nodded a bit more. She had never thought about it like that.
"I would not be able to have a girl who can't fight me and can't match me. As for your femininity, can I speak my mind?"
"I should be able to get used to that," Houki answered and she stood for the answers.
"You are a natural beauty. You can cook well. You got a few points that make you a girl. I love that." Houki smiled and nodded to him.
"Thank you, Ichika. I wasn't thinking clearly."
"Any time girl, Houki. Now, get on the bed for this massage." And Houki gladly answered that to Ichika. But first. Kisses.
Not that Ichika would complain about that. He did send Madoka what they were doing.
To get her riled up and to let her know where the surge of hormones was coming from.
In the bath, Madoka began to blush like a fool. And that had less to do with the fact that a body of perfect proportions was soaking but more the feeling of Ichika's hands. It was like she was massaging Houki.
"Something wrong, Madoka?" Chifuyu asked as she dumped a bucket over her sister.
"Nothing really, nee-chan. Just Ichi-nii making me question which way I swing." Even knowing about the link, still made Chifuyu wonder how it all really worked in some times. It was something that fascinated her when the twins had things like these.
"Oh, what is he doing with Shinonono?"
"Just massaging her. And kissing. But well, what he does to her." Chifuyu smirked as she pressed Madoka closer to her bosom. It was something that made Madoka realize how well-endowed her sister really was when they were out of tight clothes.
"I understand. But what am I doing to you doesn't do that trick?" Turning her head, Madoka greeted her sister with a grin of a thousand suns.
"Nee-chan, I don't think that it would work like that. You being my big sister and so." Chifuyu lifted her sister up which gave Madoka a real good look on the body. There was a slight amount of pride to know that this was her sister.
"Really now?" Madoka gave a bigger blush when she heard that.
Looking to the face and back to Chifuyu's assets, Madoka decided that her hands weren't busy. Chifuyu gasped when she felt hands assaulting her tits. Looking down on them, Madoka was on them.
"Really?"
"I'm just sampling what I'll be getting." Madoka had her own modest chest, growing not yet at where Chifuyu was but she felt that her chest was getting tighter. She was sporting a decent B cup already. So shopping was in order. Her hips were widening out as well.
"Given what you are having so far. I guess so. But now, that is enough." Reluctantly, Madoka let Chifuyu go.
"Fine, fine. Don't want to ruin you for Itsuka." Chifuyu gave a glare back to her sister.
"I'm not dating Yukimura."
"I saw the way you look at him." Madoka moved into the bath and made enough room for her sister. Chifuyu dumped a bucket of water over her and she began to soak in the water as well.
"Jealous?" Chifuyu asked as she put herself in the hot water while her arms pulled her sister closer.
"He's too old for me and I have not been ruined for Dan." Chifuyu loved the girl talking with her baby sister. When she saw Madoka become serious, she knew to listen to her.
"You like him, Chifuyu-nee. And I think he likes you too."
Itsuka had been coming over to the Orimura residence to check on Ichika who had healed miraculously well from his wounds.
Chifuyu wondered about her options. She wouldn't be taking care of Ichika and Madoka anymore. The choices they were picking were solid and they would leave her rather soon.
With just 24 years, she had about ten years. Itsuka couldn't be her equal or better on every front but there were places where she accepted those things. He was intelligent, a doctor, rose to the rank of lieutenant. He was also respectful to her. He wouldn't allow his crush to interfere with his job.
She had denied her chances on happiness on that level to take care of two other human beings. If her sister (and most likely her brother) told her to go for it, Chifuyu would take her shot. If Itsuka was interested in courting, they would go over this.
They had no appointment for coming over to the school. Chifuyu had vouched for him and with some details to hash out, Chifuyu could have him as a doctor in the school infirmary. An office romance but she didn't mind the reputation.
Chifuyu knew that she had no equal and while that might be true for this life, Itsuka would the best option she had.
"You have a point there, Madoka. What would you and Ichika object to?"
"That he treats us like a father or something like that. We got no problem listening to you but Itsuka doesn't have that." Turning around, Madoka did an action that Chifuyu had often done on her when they were younger.
With the forehead kiss, Chifuyu lit up.
"You're the boss of us. He isn't. Oh and don't make us uncle or aunts yet, we aren't old enough for nieces and nephews." Chifuyu barked a laugh while she ruffled the hair of her sister.
"Don't worry. As long I got two brats to take care of, I doubt that is going to happen. Speaking of, same with you and your brother. Don't make me an aunt." She would keep quiet that she had sent Mattheus on his way.
The role of Nii-chan would be taken seriously.
Scene skip
Mattheus was listening to Vampires in Ghost Town. It really sucked when your entire Spotify library existed of groups you were supposed to see. But he and Joel were forced to spend their summer in Japan. The ones who did that were smart to put him in Chifuyu's house instead of keeping him in the ISA.
He wouldn't cause the destruction of her property. Plus, he also paid Chifuyu 2K euros converted into yen as rent for him and Joel. Money that came from his personal savings.
For a while, he knew where to go. Chifuyu had given him the directions where to go and what he should ask. Dan Gotanda. The words Nii-chan might be said differently than "Grote broer" but they had the same meaning. Weird that he saw Madoka like that.
For him, it was fine to see her as his little sister. He had never thought that he would find another little sister after Freya died but for now, it was a chance to make something new out of himself. And like her big brother, he had to look after the guy that she was crushing on.
Damn, now he thought about it, their love life was taking off. When the phone gave him a message, Mattheus checked the notification. A smile covered his face.
'Hey, Mattheus. I just heard the news. I'm so sorry for this mess that I caused you. To make it up for you, when you and Joel come by, I'll be there. Hope my presence would light up your day.'
There was a PS.
'That was my first kiss you took I hope you are willing to take responsibility.'
He and Natasha. Well, it could be fun to have a girlfriend. She certainly seemed a bit more emphatic than Layla.
It would be for another day though. Two days or so from now.
Then the Gotanda restaurant came in sight. He knocked three times at the door.
Mattheus heard the stories of the gramps and so, he wasn't surprised to see the face of a grumpy old man.
"What?"
"Good day. Am I at the Gotanda restaurant?" Mattheus asked in a polite voice.
"Yes. We're not open yet."
"I'm not here for a meal."
"Then buzz off." Mattheus was glad that quick reflexes stopped the door from closing.
"I'm here for your grandson, Dan Gotanda." Ren had a glare that had caused men to piss themselves but Mattheus found that it was lacking compared to the glare of Chifuyu.
"What do you want from that fool?"
"That 'fool' is someone I need to talk to. Now, could you be so kind to call him?" Mattheus was asking in a polite voice.
"I don't care about your means. Now, get off my property before I call the cops."
Mattheus was at his wit's end when he heard that. He really didn't want to make a ruckus but he had still a pissed feeling from the days that he had.
Luckily, Dan just came down.
"Gramps, what is going?" Mattheus's eyes locked onto him. Pushing through the door, he ignored the older man falling down and walked right at him.
"Dan Gotanda, I presume?" Mattheus lifted his cap.
"Yes."
"Do you know who I am?"
Dan looked at Mattheus. The man wasn't violent but he was a good bit taller than himself. The eyes were friendly however and he wasn't here to assert dominance but mainly to ask questions. The shirt on which a Phoenix was burning with UK colors (Sabaton UK Tour 2010) made it all too clear for him.
"Mattheus Adjzof?"
"Correct. Now, can we talk somewhere private?" Dan had no clue why the Second Male Pilot came by but if he was, there had to be a damned good reason for that.
"Sorry, gramps. Going out for a bit." Dan closed the door behind him while Ren laid there wondering. Mattheus Adjzof. Where did he hear that name before?
Right, when the twins came by. But why would he be here? Dusting himself off, he decided he was going to grill Dan when he came back.
Meanwhile, Mattheus and Dan were walking as Mattheus turned to him.
"Do you have a place where we can talk?"
"There's a playground with benches." The idea of talking there sucked but Mattheus would take that above a café. When they sat down, Mattheus grabbed two colas. Handing one to Dan, Mattheus opened his own, and half of it was gone in one gulp.
"Now, what would you like from me?"
"You know who I am. I suppose Madoka told you about me."
Dan thought back on her. Every time, he was getting giddy when they visited.
"Yep. I know you indeed. Mattheus Adjzof. You appear to be friends with Madoka and Ichika. They mentioned you." The eyes went to the shirt. Madoka didn't lie when they were interested in the same stuff.
"That makes things easier. There is a little development with the Orimura's. I'm staying at their place for the summer if you wonder. Ichika got himself a girlfriend." Dan was happy he wasn't drinking or he would have spat it out. His eyes bugled out of his skull.
"Ichika? A girlfriend? Who?"
"That is a need to know and I think Ichika would kill me. Why so surprised?" Dan shuddered when he thought on it. Ran wasn't going to like that one bit.
"I'm here because of what I hear, you are crushing on Madoka." Dan raised an eyebrow to Mattheus when he heard that. He had been teased often by his crush in school.
Mattheus sat down.
"And because Madoka was so very kind to give worthless old me a nickname that I take very seriously, I was interested in hearing about you."
"What nickname?"
"Nii-chan. That means a lot to me."
Dan wondered what Mattheus went through to earn that kind of thing from Madoka but if he did, Madoka must have a damn good reason for that.
The man from Flanders wasn't there to ask him for crap but to see if he was good for Madoka.
"I see."
"Look, I'm not here to go against things. With Ichika and his girl, that was something even a blind idiot saw coming from two miles away. My question I have with you is why you are crushing on Madoka. She certainly has something but there has to be more to that?"
Dan sighed when he began to go over it.
Madoka had many good traits but she was often overshadowed by Ichika. The boy had no problem of making people fall in love with him and Chifuyu, well, what she all did, was nothing less than superhuman.
Still, she was cute, a real tease, a good friend, fiercely loyal, strong in her beliefs, a good sense of humor. Many things made Dan fall for Madoka.
"She is the kind of girl that my dad said I had to marry." Mattheus wasn't willing to pry in private affairs but if Dan wanted to go after Madoka, the younger man began to feel he had to explain that.
"Gramps is maternal. Mum is his heir to the restaurant you came by." Mattheus nodded to him to continue.
"Dad and mum wanted to marry each other when they were both young. Gramps had always wanted mum to marry one of his cooks but she felt that my dad was always better for her. And in his eyes, an engineer was too less for her."
"There had to be a reason why they ended up together." Mattheus kept his tone as neutral as possible.
"The restaurant fell into hard times. Dad had no issue donating gramps the money. If he could marry his daughter."
"Sounds like extortion if you were to ask me," Dan smirked. He heard that often enough.
"Well, mum made it clear to her father that if the restaurant closed down, she would pack and leave to live with my father. So either way, his daughter would be married off to the guy that he wanted last." Mattheus raised an eyebrow. Fathers had a good eye for their daughters most of the time.
"Your grandmother isn't here anymore. What were her thoughts?" Dan sighed. He would have loved to know her. It was said that he inherited a lot from her.
"God bless her soul but she talked some sense into him. She was fond of her future son-in-law though. Besides the job, which gave them a good amount of money, she found many traits that she endeared into my father. Some jokes say the mother-in-law is bad. In their case, it was the father. She taught my old man some tricks to keep his father-in-law in line."
When the two were done chuckling, Mattheus began to like him.
"Dad works overseas or out of town. Every two weeks he comes home. They screw like rabbits to prevent bad things from happening. I got a lot of things from him. I'm a pretty good engineer although nowhere near him."
The Hunter began to think fast about what they could do with this guy.
"Well, I'll be honest with you. Orimura-sensei is now busy with wife training. And by that, I mean, she's beating the crud of her to make sure that she's up to standards that Chifuyu approves of. She doesn't have time to get another love interest of her siblings up. So she pretty much left me with that task." He liked the eyes of Dan and found that he liked the boy. "I don't think you're a fighter. Not a bad thing either. You are telling me you're an engineer, right?" Dan gave him a nod.
"I can help you to become a top guy if you are willing to take that challenge. When you can help her out like that, I'll see if you can marry Madoka. How does that sound?" Dan blushed a storm when he heard that word.
"Marry? I am not that far yet!" Mattheus barked a laugh. He should let the poor guy in front of him now.
"Ichika is currently dating. He confessed a few days ago. You can find out who he's dating." Mattheus began to think fast on his feet. Maybe, they could find a way to work out.
"You can drop by tomorrow ff you are interested." Dan just sat down while he looked back at Mattheus.
"I'm not sure. I mean, I have been thinking about me and Madoka. I like her. And if she likes me, it would be a dream come true." Putting a hand on the shoulder, Mattheus gave a friendly smile.
"Confess. You can get a no, you can get a yes. You like her, she likes you. I don't think you'll get no. Besides, if you could get in the ISA it might be fun." Dan had a surprised look on his face when he heard that.
"The ISA. Adjzof, aren't you going too far? I'm not a pilot."
The Hunter shrugged and looked back up.
"Well, let me go like this. I'm stuck in Japan due to some fucked up ruling by the higher-ups that doesn't give me my holiday. As long I and my boy are around, I can get every higher up to play my tune so long I deliver up my front. That means getting you in the ISA can be arranged. Chifuyu will have no issue on it and if the principal protests…" Mattheus materialized his handgun.
Dan gulped when he saw the dark look of Mattheus. It was clear this older man was one scary motherfucker. Dan would never piss him off unwillingly.
"I am going to shoot him. My holidays are fucking ruined because of them so I'm getting the most out of it." Dan smirked back at him.
"If you can pull this off and Madoka says yes to me. Alright, you win. Sign me up for becoming part of this school." Mattheus really began to like this guy. Yeah, they could work with this.
"I do have to ask though." Dan stood up and met the eyes of Mattheus. "Do you have any feelings for Madoka?"
A smirk covered Mattheus's face. "I understand why you ask that. I have been friends with her ever since I walked into this school. She and I. We get along well. If she was my age, we'd be hitting off. I can see why you have fallen for her. But no. I am not having that kind of feelings for Madoka. You're safe." Dan looked back at him with a smile.
"Thanks, Mattheus."
The eyes of the older man became more serious. "Don't thank me just yet. It is up to Madoka if you two become something. It's up to me and Joel to see if she takes your last name." Dan looked puzzled on that.
"Orimura-sensei is training the girl that Ichika is hoping for and wants her to become approving of her standards. I and Joel, my engineer will do the same. You willing to take that?"
Dan stood up and met the eyes.
"Yes."
"Very well. I'll see you around." Mattheus offered the young man a hand. Looking back at it, Dan shook it.
From there on, Mattheus would fulfill a role that he wished that he could do for a while.
Scene skip.
Mattheus walked back home after he was done with the whole visit. He was listening to some songs that he had downloaded on his list. Before he could continue, he saw a pharmacy. He should be buying some things that Ichika could use. Not to mention he could have some extras well.
Chifuyu had asked him to give Ichika some talking and advice.
After that stop, he walked back to Chifuyu's place.
His shoes went off right at the door.
"I'm back." The words weren't even spoken before Joel had zipped over to Mattheus. Kneeling down for the boy, Mattheus lifted him up while he used indoor shoes. Walking through the door while he had Joel on his hips, he found that Madoka was sitting downstairs with her hair soaked.
"Had a nice bath?" Madoka turned to her best friend.
"Nii-chan, hello. Where have you been?" The Hunter crashed down on the sofa. Without a hint of shame, Joel moved to his lap.
"I went out to see your future husband. I heard from Orimura-sensei and given that she can't train two people, I'll be doing the part of your husband."
"That will be fun to see." Ichika was also down. The three only raised an eyebrow when they saw he was half-naked.
"Any reason for your state of undress? You have been making the beast with two backs with Houki, already?" Ichika raised an eyebrow at Joel's comment while they tried to ignore the scar on him. It was healing rather nicely so far.
"Yukimura-san is going to see me soon and he'll be checking on me soon to make sure things have worked out. And what is that comment supposed to mean, Joel?"
"Having intercourse. Jesus. That's an idiom most would know." Mattheus answered which colored both twins as red as a tomato. They weren't used from the blatant way that Mattheus and Joel spoke about that.
It had to come from Mattheus's old friends.
"I was not doing that!" Ichika shouted while the older guy smirked.
"If he did, I would be objecting to that. Welcome back, Adjzof. Had a pleasant walk?" Chifuyu walked into the room dressed in a bit more casual clothing. Did she want to show off her goods to Itsuka? Not that Mattheus minded it.
"Did a few errands. Either way, Ichika. Where's Houki?"
"She's taking a nap upstairs."
"Exhausted from your lovemaking. Be still, my heart." Ichika glared at the teasing that he received from Mattheus. This was getting out of hand.
"No! I massaged Houki after she had a training session with Chifuyu-nee! And she's asleep now." Mattheus walked up and lifted Joel to his hip.
"Get used to it. Just messing with ya. Either way, my turn to cook tonight?" The three Orimura perked up from that. Mattheus's cooking was much different from Ichika's or Madoka's. He had some other ideas on making good food.
The fries and beef stew were delicious. The idea of adding laurel to the sauce made for a wonderful revelation.
"Nii-chan, what are you making?" Madoka asked as she jumped up to the kitchen.
"Spicy paella. One of my favorite dishes. You want to help me?" The twins jumped on that while Mattheus handed them a few boards.
"Alright, get to these vegetables while I'm using the spices." Ichika and Madoka began to cut while Chifuyu sat back. Joel just watched the three cook. The door rang pretty soon and for Ichika, it was a signal.
Chifuyu was faster to the door and there stood Itsuka. Even in the hot weather, he had chosen some reasonable clothing. He was wearing a longer trousers but his buttoned shirt was just with short sleeves.
His eyes softened when he saw Chifuyu standing. The same thing could be said about her as she drank in the sight of him.
"Hello, Orimura-sensei." Still the lines of being professional. Not that Chifuyu found a reason to find it disheartening.
"Good evening, Yukimura-san." Turning in the house, she shouted at her little brother. "Ichika, your doctor is here!"
"I'm already ready, Chifuyu-nee." The doctor walked in to see the boy sitting on the couch while Mattheus gave a wave from the kitchen while Madoka leaned against the wall.
"Good evening, Ichika, Madoka." Turning to see Joel on the chair, the boy just waved from the chair while he was playing on some console.
"Pearce, Adjzof."
"Evening, Yukimura." Mattheus went back to the cooking and the doctor ignored him. It would take a while before they would get to better know each other.
Itsuka sat down while Ichika let him do his handy work. Madoka and Chifuyu were watching intently on how the doctor was doing.
With cold hands, he touched the wound and examined it.
"You are healing nicely, I would say." The stitches were still in but they help up rather nicely. Ichika would most likely never lose this scar, it was better than in most cases. "No way to know whether your scar will go. I can be a bit hopeful and say that your body is adapting to it. I don't think it will reopen. Anything else you remark on?"
Ichika began to think about the last few days.
"Not really. I have been taking it easy as you recommended." Chifuyu also nodded to Itsuka for extra insurance. "It doesn't really hurt and I don't have anything else of negative feeling to it."
"You been taking your meds?"
It wasn't that different from what he had.
One Paracetamol orally every ten hours. Then one Ketorolac and Cephalexin tablet. Those had to be built off today.
"I help remind him if he didn't take one himself," Madoka said and Itsuka nodded back to her. Two good sisters for this young man. Plus, the woman that he had. He wasn't going to ask where Houki was. It wasn't his place.
"No migraine or fever?" Ichika shook his head.
"Okay. Then I just have to do the usual." After his temperature was done, Itsuka touched the rest of the muscles. Nothing proved to hurt or discomfort Ichika. His heart was pumping nicely and Ichika was proving that he was doing well.
"How long until I can take up training again, doctor?" Ichika got his shirt back on and Itsuka was packing his gear away.
"At least wait until we remove the stitches. Another week and a half at least. I also would like to know how far you go in this training. Some work out is fine but don't go overboard. It would do more harm than good. In the meantime, your exercises are good to make sure those muscles can go well. That will be all."
Ichika sighed when he heard that.
His blood was rushing and he wanted to have more of a summer to enjoy. When he saw how Madoka and Chifuyu sparred, it made him envious. He was cooped up and while Houki was getting the Orimura treatment of body contact, it didn't stop him from wanting to join in this fight.
"Got it," Ichika said dejectedly.
"You need your body to heal. It's a miracle you came back from the Silver Gospel without the wound tearing. I'm not risking it again." Itsuka put a hand on his shoulder. Ichika found that Itsuka was looking a lot like Chifuyu when she was having her worried big sister routine.
"I understand." Itsuka was about to leave until he heard a sound from the kitchen.
"You can stay for dinner if you want," Mattheus said as he finished the wrap-up. The delicious smell came from the kitchen and Itsuka found his stomach rumbling. It had been a busy day. Nowhere to go now and well, it could be fine.
"It needs to stew for thirty minutes now." Ichika was wearing his shirt while Madoka and Joel grabbed plates to set the table.
"I got more than enough for us all. One more wouldn't hurt." Looking back at Mattheus, Itsuka found that he couldn't see why he shouldn't stay for dinner.
"Very well, Adjzof. I'll see if what you made is something edible." The flipping bird was something that Itsuka saw coming. He didn't mind the whole interaction with Mattheus.
If you played with fire, one could get burned.
"You'll love it," Mattheus said but then he turned to the younger male.
"Ichika, could you wake up Houki?" The words had just come out of Mattheus's mouth until they heard the noise. Houki had changed into some more comfortable clothing and she was coming down.
"What is this delicious smell?" She noticed the residents of the house plus Itsuka, with a sort of similar smile.
"Oh, good evening, Yukimura-san." A friendly smile covered the face of the doctor and his eyes lit up when he saw how Houki sat down next to Ichika. She placed a hand on his own and she found that it was an enjoyable matter.
"Good evening, Shinonono-san. I hope you had a good rest. Taking a nap would be something good but keep in mind that you have to sleep during the night as well." Houki gave him a dazzling smile.
"Don't worry about that, Yukimura-san. I'll be sleeping like a log." Houki pecked Ichika on the cheek who was blushing up a storm from that. Madoka shook her head while Chifuyu smiled as she took a seat next to Itsuka. Her sister was next to her. Joel sat on the opposite side of her and next to Houki.
Mattheus was the last and sat back with a content smile.
"I hope that you wait though. Sides, teach." Chifuyu looked back at him. "Got a question for you." Chifuyu nodded at him.
"I got a message from Natasha Fairs. She told me that they'll come over in a few days. Just a question if that is true. Do you also know where they stationed the Silver Gospel?" Chifuyu reminded herself that it was soon.
"Correct. They are stationed in the ISA. If Pearce works on it, it can be in the privacy of the school."
"Well, isn't that a bit of luck?" Joel said with the most sarcastic tone possible. "You can fuck the Representative Candidate of the US while I have to work on the Gospel." Itsuka winced as Mattheus wacked Joel's head. It appeared that he would still limit how far the boy could push his luck.
"Joel, I think you know me better than that. I'm as angry as you about missing Graspop but if you think that I see that as a win, you are sorely mistaken." The punk touched his head while Mattheus glared back at them.
"But if Flairs offers you, would you take that?" Madoka was finding the teasing to be really good fun.
"It takes a bit to get me in bed. Unlike most guys, I like to think with my upper head. Plus, that saves me trouble. Oh, I almost forgot, Zus. Dan is coming over tomorrow. I hope you don't mind that I'll keep an eye on you." Madoka pouted while Ichika barked a laugh. He already confessed and Chifuyu could see that.
Meanwhile, Itsuka was smiling back at the family that Chifuyu had built. For him, he found that this was a family. More than his own was.
Scene skip. Later that evening.
Ichika laid back on his bed. It had been a great evening. It had gotten rather late which wasn't their habit. Houki would be sleeping in Madoka's room. Chifuyu wouldn't allow them to sleep in the same room if they were just dating. Not that Ichika would cause that many issues with it. He could get where his sister was coming from.
He was lucky enough that this was all allowed.
He couldn't wait till the next day would come around. But before he could let sleep claim him, he heard a soft knock on the door.
"Ichika, you still up?" He wished that it was Houki who said that she couldn't sleep but it was Mattheus.
"Mattheus? Yeah, I was about to go to sleep. Is there something?"
"Gotta hand you something. Can do that now with the late night." Ichika wondered what it might be and the door opened.
Mattheus was still in his sweater and baggy pants.
"What's wrong?" Ichika asked as the Hunter got in. When he found the pocket, he threw Ichika a small box. If Ichika thought the blushing before was bad, he was now even worse.
"Mattheus, what the hell!" Before he could say more, the older guy shushed him down.
"Sssh, be quiet. Some are trying to sleep in this house." When Ichika calmed down, Mattheus relaxed a bit more.
"You need this," Mattheus said as Ichika stared at the box of condoms. He was looking pale.
"I do not!" He whispered harshly. "Chifuyu-nee will kill me if she sees me with these." Mattheus leaned against the door when he stood back.
"I doubt it. Your sister was the one who asked me to pick those up." It was a good thing that Ichika was sitting on the bed because he felt his world turning around. Mattheus took a chair and turned it around. Sitting down with the back of the chair turned to him, he gave a friendly smile.
"Ichika, I think you and I need to have a little chat about this. And you can choose between me, an older guy or your older sister for this. The choice is yours." Ichika was thinking that he had died and gone to hell.
If he was still on earth, he would take Mattheus for that.
"You would be good for that." The Hunter smiled back at him.
"Look, I doubt that I will have to explain to you about consent and all that other bull crap. You're a decent guy, got two sisters and you got good morals. So unless Houki wants you to, I'll be talking in the other chance." Ichika got quiet and listened to Mattheus.
"Your sister asked me to buy these for you. I am not saying you should use them but if you are going to have intercourse, use protection."
"I'm not. I would wait until I and Houki are in a proper relationship." Mattheus gave a soft smile.
"If you are the type who wait till marriage and all that kind of crap, that is your call. I'm not saying you are wrong by all means but answer me this if you would, Ichika?" The Byakushiki Pilot looked at Mattheus.
"If you would be making out with Houki, kissing and cuddling and groping and she would say, it's okay? Would you have enough in your body to say no? Would you risk the chance of having fun times with her?" Ichika thought back at it.
He and Houki weren't at that point yet but she had slowly grown used to the touching and they were finding a good find. And there was no denying it.
Houki had a great body. Her large breasts, her great hips plus a tight stomach. She could give a lot of supermodels a run for her money. Her face was well-formed. Beautiful eyes that shined at him.
Ichika was lost in thoughts but when he felt a hand on his shoulder, Mattheus gave him a friendly smile yet it was telling him "I told you so."
"Nothing bad to admit that. Hormones can be a real killer of common sense and I know what I am talking about." Ichika kept forgetting that Mattheus was a few years older than him. He just knew what they could do.
"If you have that situation, it's just easier to remember you got these and grab them. I am not telling you that you should use them. If you don't make love with Houki, you lose nothing. Your sister is not going to kill you if she finds you balls deep in her although that sight would be enough to end you." Ichika was thinking that nothing would be worse.
He hoped that it would never come to that.
"But she will kill you if you knock Houki up. And what is left of you, I'll kill and bury." Mattheus's tone was as cold as the Arctic wind. He meant that line.
Ichika looked back at the condoms.
"Sleep a night over it and see what you want to do. But my advice is to keep them. In the meantime, I'm going to take a nap. I got a gut feeling that tomorrow is going to be busy." Mattheus closed the door of his room and let Ichika to his thoughts.
Ichika was wondering about it and laid his head back on the pillows. He threw the condoms on his nightstand. A smile went over his face. Still, Mattheus made a decent point.
It was way too early for kids although. Or even that sort of thing. Sex.
A boy with his hair and Houki's eyes. Or a girl that had her hair color and his brown eyes. Ichika had always thought that he would marry and have kids with Houki. There was no denying that there was a fantasy for that.
But it would be a while before they got there.
Scene skip. The next morning.
The next morning, Charlotte Dunois stood before a door and was facing her most difficult option. The cicadas buzzing in the background. She had no clue how hard this could be. She was now visiting the Orimura siblings.
She wanted to make things right. Talk things over.
Or at least, try to get Madoka now her brother was off the market.
"Eh, what are you doing?" She heard a male voice saying. Turning around, she was greeted by a young man and woman. The man was wearing a black polo while blue jeans were worn underneath. A black bandana was tied on his head.
The girl next to him was wearing a similar bandana with a white shirt and a miniskirt to finish it.
For Charlotte, it was easy enough to identify them as siblings given how they looked. The guy was standing above the girl so he was the older one.
Turning back, Charlotte looked surprised by the fact they had more visitors. Remembering her good manners, Charlotte bowed down to them.
"Oh, hello. I'm Charlotte Dunois. I am a classmate of Ichika and Madoka. Who are you?" The guy missed the cues and just smiled back at her.
"I'm Dan Gotanda. That's my sister, Ran. I was in the same class as Ichika in middle school. Now, hold on. Are you saying you are going to the ISA as Ichika and Madoka?" Charlotte gulped when she heard the question.
"Yes, that's right. Is there a problem? In fact, why are you visiting them?" Dan was about to reply until they heard Ichika speaking.
"What the? Char, is that you? Dan, Ran? Hello." Charlotte couldn't hold down a squeak while Dan and Ran turned to Ichika.
"Hey there, Ichika. Been a while. How are you?" Ichika grinned back at him. Things were going well.
"Not too bad. I can't complain. You?" Dan shrugged on it.
"Same old, same old. Had a friend of yours visit. Mattheus." That perked Charlotte's interest.
Mattheus? What was he doing around Ichika's house?
"Ichika. What is with Mattheus? Is he here now?" Ichika sighed and opened the door of his house.
"I'll let him explain that inside. Now, let's go. Too damn hot to stay outdoors. You can come as well, Charlotte". The girl was beaming when she heard that. Maybe, she could spend some alone time with him and his sister.
Those hopes and dreams were squashed when she walked through the door of the house.
Charlotte walked through the door of the Orimura. Her eyes widened as she saw Houki, sitting on the couch. She was in conversation with Madoka who was engrossed in the whole thing. Madoka was also the first who noticed her.
"Ehm." Charlotte coughed as she walked in. Houki was already prepared for it while Madoka sat back with a smile on her face. Madoka veered up as soon she saw Dan and Ran walk through the door.
"Dan, Ran. Hey." She smiled as she zipped over to the two. Dan returned the simple hug.
"Hey, Madoka." He said while his blush set in. Without a hint of shame, Madoka grabbed his hand and sat him down. Ichika walked through to the kitchen while he patted Ran on the shoulder.
"Make yourself at home." He said while Madoka sat back in Dan's lap. Ichika wondered where she got the guts from but Madoka acted sometimes. Dan wasn't sure about it but just rolled with it. He could be in worse places than in a cute girl's lap.
"Hey, Char. What's up?" All smiles while Houki was a bit more reserved. The purple eyes honed in on Houki.
Not that Houki really seemed to mind that. What were their problems compared to the fact she had Ichika?
"What are you doing here, Houki?"
"I'm visiting my boyfriend's place. Can't I do that?" Charlotte fell to the floor beneath her feet, giving way.
"With that, she means. She's resting from the kicking her ass that Chifuyu-nee gave her." Madoka said back to Charlotte who was glaring back at Houki.
"What are you doing on the floor?" That question came from behind Charlotte who found that Mattheus and Joel were standing behind her with a raised eyebrow. Without saying much, he gently took Charlotte up and got her on the sofa while Joel took a chair from the table and sat on that.
"Here's some barley tea. It might be a bit weak since I made it this morning." Ichika simply put a glass in front of Charlotte while he moved around. Houki hoped that he would put his hands around her but he knew better than to push buttons.
Before he could the doorbell rang, Joel was out of his chair.
"I'll get it." He shouted but Mattheus came right after him.
Lifting him up to the spy, Joel could see Cecilia standing.
"Hello, how are you doing, Ichika-san?" Joel smirked as he tilted his head back
"Guys, we got a crazy Brit outside. Can we keep the door shut?" Madoka sighed when she heard that and Charlotte began to look even more down. Houki and Ichika shared a look which caused them to sigh as well. It looked like he wasn't rid of this harem so fast.
Cecilia didn't hear that last line and continued to talk.
"I just happened to be nearby so I dropped in…" Mattheus turned back to the living room.
"We let her in?"
"Oh, why not?" Madoka shouted back.
Mattheus opened the door and Joel fell on his feet. Cecilia's mouth dropped open when she saw Mattheus standing.
"Too damn hot to stay out in this weather. Come on in, Cecilia." Mattheus scooped Joel up and got him inside the house while Cecilia followed him. The place was already packed.
"Mattheus, what are you doing here?" The Hunter rummaged in the fridge before he went back. Handing out a few soft drinks to the other guests, Mattheus opened his and drank it empty.
"I and Joel gotta be here cause we need somewhere to be for the US to take care of our problem. That is why. As for the rest, well. They gotta tell that." Cecilia would have heard the story were it not for the fact that 'her' Madoka had chosen to sit on a man's lap. Before they could even continue to bicker, Mattheus felt it would be right for him to sit in this place.
Ran was simmering as she heard those words but she handled it a lot better. Her brother told her about the fact that Ichika got a girlfriend. And the girl had a full view of Houki. Compared to her, she was a full-grown woman. She would be sneaking more if she didn't find Joel to be interesting. The boy had begun to talk to her as he explained he was an engineer.
Dan and Madoka were a bit more anticipating until they heard the doorbell.
[Wanna bet that are the other two?] Ichika asked his sister using their link.
[You just had to jinx, didn't you, Ichi-nii?] Madoka said as her brother returned with two other guests.
"Looks like you all came around at the same time." Rin and Laura looked at them. The Chinese girl would be angrier if she hadn't seen Ran.
"Ran, it's been a while!" The youngest girl turned away from her conversation.
"Hey there, Rin. How have you been?" Joel just stood up from his chair while he sat down with Mattheus on a chair.
"Got a full house now." Laura glared at Mattheus and at Madoka. Her eyes landed on Houki.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"For the new ones in the house, I hope this is the last time. I'm here because Joel and I got to look up the Gospel. Houki is here cause she got wifey training from Orimura-sensei." All five girls blanched when they heard that line.
"Wifey training?" Charlotte asked in an icy tone.
"And what exactly does that mean?" Cecilia turned to Mattheus.
"I would say that my wife would be more suited for that." Laura was looking back at Madoka.
The Orimura girl leaned in to Dan's ear.
'Long story. I'll tell you later.' Dan wondered what they went through at the school. He would need some time to get used to it.
"Can you explain that to me?" Rin said.
"I want to know as well!" Ran shouted at the group.
"Sensei is beating the crud out of Houki to get her on the level of Ichika and Madoka. Somewhere none of you are as of late." Joel handed Mattheus a cookie. The man had to keep in mind they were eating well.
The house was one thing with the three Orimura living there, Houki, Mattheus and Joel added that up to six. Now, with Dan, Ran, and the four other girls, that was twelve. So it was a bit difficult helping things through.
"If you were all planning on coming, I would have appreciated a warning," Ichika said while Dan looked over the shoulder of his sister.
"Eh, Ichika. What about me?"
"You, I expected Dan, Mattheus told me about it." The Hunter waved back at them. "I had also foreseen your sister would tag along as well." Ran smiled back at him while Ichika sighed.
"Biggest question is what we are going to do now? There is jack of crap to do around here. Sides, it's too damn hot to go out in this weather. I'd say we stay downstairs." Mattheus replied back while Joel stole another cookie.
"Make sure you got room left for tonight's dinner." Joel shrugged on that remark.
"In the meantime, what are we going to do with this many people here?" Ichika asked. Looking back at Houki, she shrugged. She understood that being alone all the time.
"One thing back though," Laura commented to the group.
"You said that Chifuyu-san is giving Shinonono wife training. And Pearce says that it entails fighting with instructor. I believe that you are not on the level for that." The four other girls rapidly nodded while Dan shared a look with Mattheus.
'I'll take your training in that case though.'
"Yep. She's nowhere near me or Ichi-nii for that matter." Madoka commented while the other girls turned their attention to the youngest Orimura.
"Care to explain that, Madoka-san?" Cecilia asked.
"I want to know what you mean with." Rin was backing her up.
"I wonder sort of training you mean." Charlotte was the third one.
"I am interested in that as well." They had to keep Ran in mind. Madoka shared a look with her brother who sat down as well.
"Should we tell them the full story, Ichi-nii?" Madoka asked while Ichika took open a can of soft drinks.
"Why the hell not? You go first." Madoka nodded.
"For all those here and the ones informed, this is how Ichi-nii and I received our Infinite Stratos. It all happened during the Second Mondo Grosso championship. We were kidnapped." Ichika sighed.
"Long and brutal story short. Chifuyu-nee saved our sorry asses and to keep us safe, we were sent to Tabane-san's place for over a year. It's where Madoka got her IS gifted and where I got mine. She trained us there. And I can say, brutally. Good thing we had nothing else to do."
Joel was about to comment about his own relationship but Mattheus grabbed him closer.
'Not a good idea, brother. Keep quiet.' Joel nodded back as he wanted to get the cookie down.
"Why were you at Tabane Shinonono's place for a year?" Cecilia asked and Madoka turned to Laura.
"Chifuyu-nee got sent to Germany because, in return for the information, she had to train their cadets for a year. Which is where she met you, right, Laura?" The arms were crossed and the German nodded proudly.
"Indeed, the instructor took us, the Schwarzer Hase (black hare), and made us into one of the best military Infinite Stratos units."
"No wonder you two are so freaking strong. I saw the way you trained with her, Madoka. And you are about the same as your sister, Ichika. That was Orimura-sensei's full attention to two individuals. Damn in hell. That's crazy."
Ichika and Madoka beamed on that comment.
"You bet. But back to the story. After Chifuyu-nee came back around, she trained with us. Normally spoken, sword training would not be enough to get you in an Infinite Stratos unit. But with Chifuyu-nee, it is not normal." Madoka said as she realized that the gap between herself and Ichika with their sister was shrinking.
"And that is what she's doing to Houki. In her words 'I might approve of you but that doesn't mean that I fully agree on this. Due to a lack of parents, I will make sure that you are up to my level and standards. I will not have his wife be incapable of standing next to him.'"
Madoka said proudly while the remaining girls had their mouths dropped.
"And I can tell you all are open to challenge to Chifuyu-nee's decision. You can challenge her for a fight if you are so inclined. And keep in mind, she's training Houki. Every day, you end up on the floor. Same as us in the beginning by the way." Ichika commented.
The four girls gulped when they heard those words.
"I think that they can watch a match between Zus and Orimura-sensei before they sign up on that," Mattheus said while he leaned his head back.
"Even I am not crazy enough to ask for a match and you two do it for fun." The glare he got from the twins made him reconsider those words.
"Now we do it for fun," Madoka growled.
"Let me tell you that between the time we left Tabane-san's lab and we enrolled in the ISA, we definitely did not do it for fun." Ichika finished his sentence. Houki was now looking back at the two. Chifuyu-san was strict but never cruel. Still, the twins found that they had a hard time when they trained with their sister.
"Okay, noted. How about we do something else?"
Mattheus took a look and just shrugged on it.
"I still can't believe that my brides have not figured out to entertain me during that," Laura answered which caused many different reactions to that.
The twins groaned on that while Ran veered up from her form.
"Your brides? What the hell are you talking about?!" Laura crossed her arms while she smirked.
"Oh, don't you know, foolish girl? I have made them my brides." It was all high superiority while she spoke.
Houki was happy that she had already established a relationship that Ichika and she agreed on. The same couldn't be said from the other girls.
Rin was standing, right next to Ran.
"I am backing her up? What are you talking about?" Cecilia crossed her arms as she glared at the German.
"They are right. I do not believe I have said yes to that."
"Laura, you are wrong. If you would wed Ichika, he'd be your groom. And I don't think that neither of them agreed on that." Charlotte had grown used to dealing with Laura.
"Well, if you consider the fact that Laura kissed Madoka first, you could make an argument with that." Joel got shut up by Mattheus while the rest of them fall out of their chairs.
"Joel, don't bring that up!"
Madoka was happy that Dan had grabbed her closer because he would have fallen out of his chair if he didn't. Cecilia looked like she swallowed a grapefruit, both Ran and Rin sputtered when they turned to Joel, Charlotte buried her face in her hands and Ichika could just feel the mortification from his sister.
"Kissed you?" Dan said to her while he pulled Madoka closer to him.
"She saved me from one crazy and then shoved her tongue down my throat." Ichika cringed when he heard that line.
"I did not need to know that, sis." Madoka glared back at him.
"Your first kiss wasn't taken by an eyepatch." Ichika and Houki shared a look with each other. They couldn't deny that wasn't an envious fate.
"Can say that I'm luckier than you on that part. I wasn't violated." The rest of the girls were glaring at Ichika now who began to sweat.
"Oh, really?" Ran stood up while she glared at Ichika. "Who did you kiss first?"
"Ichika-san, don't tell me." Cecilia had her hand for her mouth.
"You are making a joke, right?" Charlotte was next to her.
Rin was about to kill him. "I was so damn close." She muttered while Houki was blushing heavily.
"I was your first kiss." Ichika rubbed his neck while he nodded to his girlfriend. He nodded to her while he blushed as well.
Dan looked back to his friend and then to Madoka.
"Well, that really sucks."
"Why? Because you wanted to be her first?" Joel teased while Mattheus grabbed his neck.
"Joel, be very careful about what you are going to say." The boy tensed when he felt that off his brother. He knew that he was on thin ice.
"Okay, okay. I'll leave things be where they are." That was for the best because the girls were fired up.
"I still don't believe that the instructor would teach you how to become a wife! You don't use the proper curriculum." Laura glared at Houki who wasn't much better. The feeling of a good fight was still in her body but she had no idea that she could be this tired.
"Couple things that I would like to ask. You keep referring to Ichika and Madoka as your brides. That term is wrong on Ichika because he would be the groom due to his gender. Second. To marry, you would need paperwork. Where is this coming from?" Dan felt every eye on him while Mattheus rubbed his eyes out.
He was getting tired of this.
"As we told you, Laura here kissed Madoka when she decided not to kill the twins anymore."
"Quite some change." Joel was quick on the take and Mattheus proved he had good timing.
"Indeed not, Joel. And when she said that, we haven't gotten it out of her head that she isn't married to them by any custom. By the way, Ichika," the male Pilot turned to the oldest guy.
"We really should get you to work on those guns again that we gave you." Joel nodded back to him while Ichika sighed. He hadn't used the prototypes ever since the Gospel hit.
"When school begins again. Probably should get some training on that." Madoka looked back at her brother.
"Weird though when you think about it, Ichi-nii." The raised eyebrow caused Madoka to explain.
"Neither you nor Chifuyu-nee are real gun users. And yet, I have taken up a rifle." The girls were looking back at her.
"True but you also use a sword as I do," Ichika answered while Mattheus began to think about it. Their best strategy was to send in Ichika ahead while Madoka provided support from afar. In case it was needed, she could take up a sword.
"Not going to lie about that."
"But back to the subject matter, please," Dan asked from the two.
"She kissed you, Madoka, and said that you would become her bride." Madoka buried her face in her hands while Laura crossed her arms.
"Indeed, it was my lieutenant, Clarissa, who told me about that. It's how it is decided." Madoka cocked an eye back to Dan who got the message from her. It was impossible to change her mind.
"I think that I'll do a lot more." He should have said that in a quieter tone because all the girls were now ready to pounce on him and shred him to pieces.
Ichika decided that something had to be done. And more for their sakes than his. Because Chifuyu would be lenient to them. But not to their friends.
[Play the old song?]
[Let's hope it works.] Ichika moved up and get his drum case. Slowly, Ichika began to play the tune.
It was a song that he used when Madoka and Houki were angry when they were younger.
One, dozing off more than humans, Shukaku
Two, burning with fire, Matatabi
Three, leave the water to him, Isobu
Four, hot as lava, Son Gokū
Five, always on the run, Kokuō
Six, not overdoing it and not in hurry, Saiken
Seven, the flying leaf insect, Chōmei
Eight, "whee" as expected, Gyūki
Nine, past-and-present all-mighty, Kurama
It did the trick for the girls to calm down when they heard Ichika play.
All the Tailed Beasts have gathered together magnificently
They're a little difficult, but they're good names
They all have splendid names
They all have fantastic names
They listened while Mattheus tapped his foot to that. It had a nice tune. Meanwhile, Dan decided that Ichika had to teach him that song.
One, with awful bags under his eyes, Gaara
Two, gently brushing a meowing cat, Yugito
Three, the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura
Four, forty years with Four-Tails, Rōshi
Five, with stern power, Han
Six, quiet and casually dressed, Utakata
Seven, the soothing kunoichi, Fū
Eight, with the sick raps, Killer B
Nine, from Konoha, Naruto Uzumaki
Eventually, it was to the point the girls were sitting down asleep. Joel had done the same thing as well.
All of the very strong jinchūriki
Can they become friends with the Tailed-Beasts
They're all splendid ninja
They're all fantastic ninja
Ichika ended it after he looked things over. Houki and he shared a look while the girls were taking a nap.
[Thanks, Ichi-nii.] Madoka sent to him. At least, he hoped they could stay quiet until Chifuyu-nee came around.
And just when her siblings needed her, they got their sister home.
The door rang and in walked Chifuyu, dressed in an easy T-shirt with a black undershirt, showing some cleavage. Her eyes landed on the group.
"I was wondering what the noise was." Her eyes landed on the twins.
Madoka tapped on the arms of Dan who let her go. "Welcome home, Chifuyu-nee." Zipping over to her arms, she landed in them, and with a giggle, she lifted her sister up. "Hey, Madoka. Ichika." Mattheus, Houki, and Joel kept quiet.
"Welcome home, Chifuyu-nee. Got anything to eat? If not, I can get you something. Tea?" The Brunhilde walked in while she let her sister go.
"Cold. It's hot outside. I have already gotten something to eat." Taking off her shirt, Ichika carried the suitcase away while the girls eyed the three Orimura acting like that.
Ran's mouth dropped open at how Chifuyu interacted with the two. "Is it a problem they are here, Chifuyu-nee?" Madoka asked while giving her the puppy eyes. Ruffling the hair, Chifuyu shook her head. She was kind of happy about this but she had to hand it to the girls that they came over.
"You can stay here for fun but no sleepovers. Got it?"
She looked back at Houki.
"Same goes for you, Houki. You can't stay this night." The Shrine Maiden raised her hands up as to agree with her.
"That's okay, sensei. I got to go to my aunt's place for the festival and I ran out of clothes anyway to wear."
"Two birds, one stone. Oh and Adjzof." The Hunter looked up from her.
"From what I hear, the US personnel for the Silver Gospel are now stationed at the ISA. You have to be there tomorrow morning. So I expect you to leave the house as well."
Turning to her siblings, the two got the message.
"Tonight, you'll be alone. I'll be home late as well."
"Oh, going somewhere, Chifuyu-nee?" Her brother teasingly asked with the sister adopting a similar look. Both had gotten a serious teasing from her and it was only fair to get payback.
"Yep. I'm going to see Itsuka. After drinks." Ignoring the wolf whistle from Joel, Chifuyu dressed in a white shirt again that hid most cleavage.
It was a bit more classy and she could do with some adult company. The more time she spent with Itsuka, the more she began to enjoy it.
"I expect you to keep your opinions to yourselves." And with that, she left.
"Don't want to be in her shoes," Madoka commented while she went to sit back in Dan's lap.
"Being a teacher isn't that easy." The girls minus Houki looked back at him.
"What's wrong?" Charlotte voiced the group's thoughts near perfectly.
"Ichika, you looked like Orimura-sensei's wife." Rin had her five cents as well.
"You're always so attached to Chifuyu-san," Ichika smirked back and leaned against the counter.
"Someone gotta run the house and let me tell you that I have never allowed Chifuyu-nee to set foot in the kitchen after the disaster. Besides, attached, did you take a good look at Madoka?" The younger Orimura shrugged while they got that comment.
"It's what it is, Ichi-nii. Besides, I think that we gotta go out shopping. We need dinner."
Rin veered up.
"I'll show you my cooking skills."
Houki followed her up.
"I'll help. It's my turn anyway."
"I guess I'll help too," Charlotte muttered.
"I can help as well of course. My unit took turns in cooking so I know some bits around the kitchen." Laura was the next.
Cecilia talked like a real royal lady
"I suppose it can't be helped. I shall also."
This time, there was no link needed for every attendant in the Infinite Stratos Academy to say the same thing.
"There's no need for you to help!"
Shopping could be something that was easy enough but the girls insisted that they went with Ichika. Madoka knew better than to ask to tag along so Ran took her spot. Meanwhile, Mattheus and Joel stayed back to do the preparations. Dan also took up spots on that.
Joel sat back with Madoka on the whole bits while Mattheus had taken a seat.
"Sorry 'bout the busy spots. I had no idea we'd be getting those many visitors." Dan shrugged on the remark.
"Just wondering though. Why did everyone disagree on letting the blonde with curls cook?"
"You wanna see your food again after eating? Not the normal way." Mattheus asked and Dan figured it out.
"No."
"Me neither. I wonder how the shopping will go."
Scene skip
Charlotte looked over at the potatoes. "This reminds me of the days I spent shopping with my mother."
Laura looked the food over as well.
"I shall show you my skills as taught to me by the instructor." Houki shuddered on the cooking. Her boyfriend let that know enough. Meanwhile, Ran and Rin joined together with Cecilia.
"Why can't I cook? I want to show my skills as a Representative candidate."
Ran pulled her old friend asides.
"Is she that bad?" The redhead whispered in the ears of the Chinese girl. The heavy nods on her part convinced Ran that Rin wasn't joking. It wouldn't be fun to have that kind of thing to eat.
Meanwhile, Houki walked with Ichika.
"You are going to the festival, right? And drop by at home." Houki nodded to him.
"Simply haven't found the time for it. I want to go home for a bit. I have to tell my parents and aunt that we're dating." Ichika thought back on Ryuuin, her father.
"Keep that idea for later though. I want that Chifuyu-nee is present. Because knowing your father..." Houki smirked when she heard that.
"I have to tell Yukiko though. My aunt will be teasing me but at least, she'll take it better than my dad. Also, Ichika, at the summer festival, I..." Before she could say anything else, a commotion got their attention.
"Ichika!" Charlotte held on to Cecilia's arm.
Rin held on the waist of the Brit.
"Do something about her! Cecilia insists that she cooks us something!"
"I can't fathom what you have against my cooking!" Cecilia couldn't but the rest of them could. Ichika sighed.
"I'm glad that you are a bit more mature. Sorry, gotta handle the kids." Houki stood back and smiled. She would have his love but they weren't done with this just yet.
"Calm down."
"I will have you enjoy it no matter what, Ichika-san!" Before long, they were back home and preparing the cooking.
Mattheus and Dan took over the potatoes since neither Rin nor Laura knew how to cut them.
"A retarded monkey can do this." Mattheus had some special potato peelers and he was going through them like butter.
"That says something," Dan said back while he was taking care of the stuff. Joel barked a laugh while he was cutting meat in pieces. He liked Dan so far from what he saw. Meanwhile, Ichika was happy that Madoka was keeping a close eye on Cecilia.
"Houki, at the supermarket, you wanted to say something about the festival?" They were wearing aprons and cook caps to prevent their hair from falling in.
"Eh, it's nothing." Ichika was a bit better on that and he would ask later.
"And well, I think you should take a look there." Ichika followed her line of sight. Madoka was trying to persuade Cecilia.
"Come on, I know what I am doing."
"You do not. And I do not want you in the kitchen!" His sister shouted back. Dan walked up to the front to see that they had foolishly allowed Cecilia to cook some hot pot. The smell was enough and Mattheus got reminded of the time that Layla overcooked the potatoes. Nothing more disgusting than smelling that.
Dan and Ran passed by the pot where the stuff was good to throw away. The young man passed by while he smelled the stuff. It was more like an image of hell compared to something that resembled food.
"You want a taste, onii?" His nose told him enough.
"No thanks. This smells like death. What did you even try to make?"
"A beef stew? Would you like to try?" Joel passed by and when Dan saw the boy, he lifted him up. One look was enough to throw up inside his mouth.
"I think that she needs to stay out of the kitchen," Joel said as he put down. Dan sighed when he watched the inside. They had to throw this out. If they dumped this outside, no birds would pass by in the area for a few days.
"Madoka, if you could be so kind." The girl nodded to her crush. She grabbed Cecilia from behind.
"Oh my, Madoka-san. So bold." The arms wrapped around her tightened and a sleeper hold stopped the cooking. Putting her down on the floor, Madoka was looking with shocked or intrigued looks.
"What? Did you want to eat that or did you want to get her out the kitchen?" Madoka asked while she grabbed Cecilia up and took her to the sofas.
"Madoka-san, where did you learn that?" Ran asked as she saw the girl coming back without a hint of shame.
"Chifuyu-nee taught it to me and Ichi-nii. It really helps to degrees." She found her scalp assaulted by Mattheus who ruffled her hair.
"Looks like that is something new. Zus, do me a favor, don't try that out on me?" Before she could reply, Laura perked up from that answer.
"Mattheus, what does Zus mean?" Madoka shared a look with the Flemish guy who smiled back at her.
"Should tell them?"
"Yep, nii-chan." Madoka went to get the plates.
"Madoka is giving the nickname nii-chan which means big brother. I call her Zus. That is Flemish for sister." And Dan was the only one who wasn't surprised by that.
"Either way, I hope that we get ready for this cause I'm starving." Houki pressed her back against Ichika. It was the only amount of affection they shared in the last hours. It weighed on them but they couldn't be rude to their friends now.
Scene skip
Itsuka had slid in the bar. He was now alone on a chair while the place was really quiet. He had to admit that Chifuyu really picked her places well. Before long, Chifuyu walked into the place.
"Hello, Itsuka." She rubbed her arm. For some reason, she looked really cute like that. She was dressed in a skirt again and yet, her cleavage showed.
"Hello, Chifuyu-san." He gave a simple greeting back to her. Taking the opposite chair, she gave a small smile.
"Been here long?" She asked as she signaled to the bar for the usual one.
"Long enough to like this place. How was your day?" Itsuka asked Chifuyu.
"I think that I really want to answer this. Did your sisters ever have boyfriends over?" The shudder made her realize that she was asking something personal.
"If you want to know, you might be happy that Madoka-san and Ichika-kun are younger because let me tell you that there are a few things more awkward than catching your sisters doing the nasty." Chifuyu raised an eyebrow while Itsuka nodded to her about it.
"Oh good. I did request them to go home at the end of the night."
"They will not be worried," Itsuka asked while he drank a bit more.
"My sister and brother are very well in that regard. And besides, jealous?" The doctor shrugged when he heard that.
The smile told her enough.
"I would like to think that I know you well enough." The entire evening they spent chatting about their ideas and lives. They did make some decent agreements though for the school. Itsuka was nearly signed in already and Juuzou found him to be a good fit. She would have to make sure that no one touched her lover.
"Either way, tomorrow, both of them are out so I suppose that I should be looking out for a place to eat." Itsuka smiled back at her.
"I know a good place somewhere. But I have to say that they are serving a lot of meat." Chifuyu gave him back a smile while she had worked up a foot against his leg. He stiffened but didn't react besides that.
"I have been an IS pilot. Can't scrap meat from my diet. Besides, my brother would have words with me."
The smirk would prove something that Chifuyu would like. They would have fun talking about this the entire night. The jokes and teasing were something that she never had and she admitted that the teasing that she received from her siblings was good training.
Scene skip
When Chifuyu made her way back home, she was happy she didn't have too much to drink. Itsuka and she stopped right before the booze would be too much. They both realized that spending the night at the others place would be a bit too fast. They agreed to take this slow and easy.
They weren't a bunch of teenagers in love (although they would admit they acted like ones), they had responsibilities. In Chifuyu's mind, there were two sides. At the one end, a demanding voice asked her what she thought. It was her life and neither Madoka nor Ichika had any right to voice an opinion on that.
The other voice (a mix of her siblings, fitting) told her that while Ichika and Madoka approved of her choice (and they liked the guy), they asked her to take some time before they would start this. They would have to grow used to it. Not jealousy but a change of life. It had been always the three of them and another party would be a shock.
Although, if things continued like this, all three Orimura would get a lover before long. When the door opened, it was easily already past midnight. Chifuyu didn't think she would hear sounds. Walking through, she found that both Ichika and Madoka were still awake.
"Oh, welcome home, Chifuyu-nee." They said without a hint of shame or regret. The older sister would shout if her siblings weren't taking care of dishes.
"Ichika, Madoka, what the hell are you doing? It's midnight." She checked her watch.
"Half-past midnight." The siblings shrugged back on that and Ichika handed the last dish to Madoka.
"We cooked for 11 people, they had to leave before the night, including Mattheus, Joel, and Houki." Ichika began.
"We decided that it was better to take care of the dishes now so our dear sister wouldn't get a heart attack. Or that her lover would think she is a pig." Madoka finished the sentence. Chifuyu chuckled as Ichika pulled the plug on the water.
"More than usual though." Ichika walked over to her and looked her over.
"Itsuka-niisan keeping you back from drinking?" Chifuyu shook her head and she ruffled the hair of Ichika. A tight hug made him know they weren't in trouble.
"I think it's a bit early to refer to him like that, Ichika." When she let her brother go, Madoka had walked over to her. The other arm was open and Madoka was never one to pass up a hug from her sister.
"I'm fine, Madoka." When her sister let her go, she smiled back at her sister.
"How was the date with Itsuka?" Ichika walked back and had the same teasing smile. They were getting really good at this.
"I wouldn't call it that but he is a wonderful drinking buddy and an awesome chat partner. He knows what we can get when we say yes to dating." After the forehead kiss that Madoka wanted, the little sister raised an eyebrow.
"The entire meltdown of every one of your fan clubs?" Chifuyu rolled her eyes when she heard that.
"No, the fact that I have two siblings who I am responsible for. I have a feeling that you find him a good match."
"We do." That was said without a moment's hesitation.
"That is the matter that we have. I will be sure that we make things work. He made it clear that he doesn't want to play daddy and I have been more than abundant that neither of you wants that from him. That is the only matter we have to agree on." Chifuyu suddenly felt tired from this entire thing. She yawned and felt that it was late enough.
"Well, I think that I am going to bed. We can sleep in tomorrow." Before Chifuyu could get to her bed, she felt her instincts kicking in as she saw the two standing in front of her.
"About that," Madoka said with a mischievous expression that had made Chifuyu mad and proud before.
"We have a request." Ichika had a similar devious look on his face.
Scene skip
"I should have seen this one coming," Chifuyu said as she was pinned down by two weights on her. Sleeping in her arms were Ichika and Madoka. Not that she minded it.
"Shut up." Madoka was now sleepy as she had the left spot on the arms.
"Most likely, we won't be doing this." Ichika was next.
"Just let us have this." The two said at the same time as they closed their eyes. Chifuyu was about to shout but in times like these, she could be lenient. And the twins were out already as a light. It would make things easier for her.
And they were right most likely. Closing her eyes, she wrapped her arms around the twins. If this was the last time they would ever do this, she would make most of this.
Scene skip.
Mattheus was happy that he moved earlier back to the ISA. He took Lavathenian to fly back with Joel. He hadn't wasted time after dinner. Going home now, giving them a good night of rest.
A part of him was very happy that he looked further than a week. There was no fresh food in the closet but at least, he had enough breakfast biscuits so that Joel and he had something for it. And again, he was in the festival mood.
Joel had already gone early to bed. It was most likely that they would have to work fast again on the Silver Gospel early in the morning. There could be things then.
The young man quickly entered his bed and fell asleep as well. Morning would come early for now. It was a good thing that he was exhausted.
The next morning
An insistent amount of knocking was not the way that Mattheus nor Joel liked to wake up to. But neither of them could ignore it. The Hunter got out fast and went to the door. Unlocking it, he was greeted by two women who were dressed in black. They had sunglasses on.
"Adjzof Mattheus?"
"Like you didn't know that. What do you want?"
"We're US personnel stationed at the ISA to oversee the reparation of the Silver Gospel and we demand that you and Joel Pearce are to the technician's bay immediately so that we." A fist to the mouth was a perfect way to shut a woman up who decided that personal matters like sleep didn't matter. Before her partner could even react, Mattheus had materialized his handgun and aimed at her.
"Look, shut the fuck up. I'm going to myself and Joel up. We're going to eat something for breakfast, he's gonna work on that Silver Gospel and I hope for you that Natasha Fairs is around because she's the biggest reason why I am here. Not a couple of stuck-up twats who got shit clogged up." And with that, Mattheus closed his door. Joel had already been up and glared at the door.
"I hate that."
"Same here," Mattheus answered. He grabbed a box of cookies. Without a word, he handed one to Joel and opened one himself.
"I wish we had something else for breakfast," Joel said. He and Mattheus ate those cookies often at festivals. You needed to have remains of something else before you gorged on hamburgers and fries.
"I'll see if we can get better lunch."
Mattheus answered. After eating, he switched to his clothes. Comfortable baggy trousers and a shirt from Wacken were all he really needed. When sandals got on, Joel took his phone, laptop, toolbox with him, and the two just walked by.
The ISA wasn't as abandoned as they had guessed or hoped. Plenty of students and teachers around. It was clear who the outsiders were though. The Americans were not to touch or order Mattheus or Joel.
On the technicians' bay, Mattheus found Natasha Fairs together with a whole bunch of crew. The bombshell walked over to him with a disapproving look. Mattheus felt like he was in elementary school again. He acted well as a mischievous child.
"I heard you were a bit rough on my staff." The arms crossed pushed up that chest of hers. Man, why were some of those pilots so hot?
"Sorry but I don't appreciate a rough morning. First ten minutes, leave me be. And a fist is nothing compared to what he would do." Mattheus nodded over to Joel who gave Natasha a two-fingered salute and a cheeky grin.
"He means that. So, I hear you got some issues with the Gospel. I am not buying the story that is because of my remote hacking." Joel always took pride in his work.
"Indeed not. Issues have been going on. While Kid is now shut down, I was hoping you could work on her." Joel shrugged and moved the crew out of the way.
"I guessed that. Now, all of you out of the door. I want to work on this IS on my own and I don't need eyes on me. In fact, most of you can go home." Mattheus shrugged while he turned to the stunned crew.
"You heard the kid. Out." The rifle came in his hands. The crew looked back at the boy who sat down as he began to open the files. The data had to collaborate on his own so he could figure out the most stuff.
"I want Fairs here to pilot the whole thing. But now fuck off. You kept me in Japan so I could do this so I'm doing this my way. If you couldn't figure it out on your own, I don't want you in my room." Mattheus shared a look with Natasha. In some way, she couldn't argue with the boy.
"If you need anything, Joel, give me a beep," Mattheus said as he ushered the sputtering women out. Joel looked over the PCs. They were good, but the real test was to get the corrupted data out. This could take a while.
Out in the hallway, the women looked undignified by the way they were treated.
"How dare he talk to us like this? We should be."
"Shutting up and letting my boy work on this," Mattheus said and he turned to Natasha.
"Now, I have been hearing some fun rumors." The roguish grin set in and it was greeted by a teasing wink.
"Oh? Really?"
"Yeah, a little birdy told me that you are transferring to the ISA. Any reason for your career change?" The bombshell gave a dazzling smile while she eyed him up.
"Well, I was looking for something else. And one other reason why I thought about it." Her eyes turned a bit more serious.
"I was thinking of you taking responsibility for taking my first kiss." The Hunter offered his arm to her.
"I don't want to discuss those matters in the hallway. Let's move to the cafeteria." Natasha took it and her stunned crew saw their princess walking off with a mere common man.
In the lab, Joel worked it over. Removing the data wasn't the issue when he finally found it. But given his previous patch in, he began to see things.
"This is looking too similar. Better call auntie." He still wasn't used to refer to Tabane Shinonono as that but it was fun to be on her Christmas list.
In Tabane's lab
Tabane was working on her newest creations. Finding things in the world that were fun became harder when you grew up but it still had its merits.
And she had to spy on the Orimura for their love life. Although she was very happy about having Houki becoming Ichika's girlfriend, Itsuka was something she didn't see coming. Not sure if she wanted to have that.
Joel was certainly someone that she had to keep in mind.
And it was easy when a ringtone came through.
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
"I'm shipping off... to find my wooden leg! Heya, Joel-chan!" Tabane shouted on the phone. She heard the snort from Joel.
"Seriously? Did you take that song as my ringtone? Figures." Joel answered her. Oh, that came from Lizzy. Joel had more in common with his mother than she would have guessed first.
"How is summer, Joel-chan? Happy with no school?"
"Not really. Instead of blasting my head off to metal, I'm in Japan, taking care of Uncle Sam's most recent fuckup. It's still one fine piece of equipment though."
Tabane smiled when she heard Joel talk. They had a lot to catch up to.
"So any reason why you are calling your sweet old godmother?"
"Auntie, you are sweet but you ain't old. I called you for a good reason." Tabane smirked when she laid her head back.
"You are right. What's the matter?" She was genuinely interested in why Joel would need help.
"I have been going on in this file. Something that strikes me as familiar. Auntie, could you be so kind to take a look?" Tabane had reasons to ask about that but if Joel was serious, it could mean danger.
"Will do. Say, Joel-chan? Any other help?"
"Nah, I just gotta send the data over. The US gets a condensed version of that, though. And I found out that the Pilot, Natasha Fairs, is staying at the ISA." Tabane heard the teasing tone in his voice.
"Bad thing?"
"Most likely not. There are some diagnostics I am running on this. How have you been, auntie?" Tabane sighed when she heard that voice. Oh, she began to love Joel even more. It was a good way again to make amends.
"Been going over stuff as well. With you now, and a bit more call happy than Chi-chan, Madocchi, Ikkun, or Houki-chan, it can be fun." Joel found that his folks made a good choice.
In the cafeteria.
Mattheus had occupied Natasha while the two chatted about their lives. The students in the school often found that it was a sight. At least, there was still food and it could be eaten decently.
Eggs were better than just cookies.
"So, what is this about responsibility?" Natasha found that he meant those words.
"You don't want that?" She had always been seen as too beautiful but a part of her found that finding a guy could be done. Especially with her folks pressuring her. The advice of her grandmother was useful to that indeed.
"I am not against this but I do play for the long game. That means that Joel is a part of that. Are you fine with that?" Mattheus answered back to her. He was also looking for a fulfilling relationship and while he had looser standards on sex, he still wanted a girl that loved him.
He could love flaws in others as long they did the same for him. Natasha sighed and looked at the door.
"I am not the type of girl that jumps in bed with a handsome guy. I can thank my folks for that." Mattheus nodded to her.
"Good, 'cause that's not something I want for Joel. While he can argue about it, Joel is a child that I am responsible for. I am not the best example but too much came to him already. I want to know from you, what you think of my boy."
Natasha pressed a kiss on his forehead.
"If you are worried about that, don't be. I like you. That kiss was my first and I think you are handsome enough. As for the boy. He has a foul mouth, yes but he is not rude. He curses to make a point, not for the sake of it. I have a niece from an older sister. She's a nightmare during Thanksgiving. Spoiled rotten. From what I saw of Joel, little though, he doesn't appear to be that."
Mattheus stroked his beard that came through. He should get some shaving done soon.
"Joel's mouth is one thing. But he is not spoiled. He can be a child, to keep you in mind he is still 12. Besides that, he is loyal, tenacious, honest and he is very considerate." That was an answer she liked.
"I let him go loose, more than a parent would but Joel knows that he has to hold back and I am fine with a whack when he goes overboard. We two have been together for the last four years and the reason for the other of living. He's part of me like I'm part of him."
"And that will be for a long while." Neither of them jumped when Joel stood in the cafeteria. The two adults looked at the child who stood before them.
As a drawing, Joel showed his laptop.
"I'm done on the Gospel. I am running a scan to make sure that she's fine. Give it a day and you can fly again." Natasha was well versed enough to see that Joel got the Gospel done in a relatively short time.
"That's good to hear. You work fast." Joel shrugged when he heard those words. Before Natasha could react, Joel worked himself in her lap.
"I aim to please. But about this, if you and brother are going to date, I think you have to keep me in mind." Mattheus was smiling at the stuttering mess that was Natasha Fairs.
"He likes you. He wouldn't have done that otherwise. So wanna do this?" She was teased enough and she grabbed the shirt of Mattheus. A searing kiss was enough to seal the deal. Joel closed his eyes when he saw that.
It was a bit too much for his age but he found that he liked Natasha. It would take a few days before all this.
He should keep in mind that Mattheus used protection. He didn't want to become a big brother just yet.
Scene skip
Houki was happy that she came around early.
"It really is that time of year again." Her attention was called to her.
"Houki-chan, there you are." Before her stood a woman with similar hair color and eyes. A red kimono was worn by her and a kind smile showed to her.
"Sorry, I wanted to take a look around," Houki answered as her aunt came closer.
"Not to worry about that. It's been a while. I hear that you got yourself a cute boyfriend." Houki blushed when she heard that from her aunt. Yukiko's eyes twinkled when she saw her adorable niece color red.
"Where did you hear that?"
"Oh, so it's true. So who is the lucky guy?" Houki now understood what her boyfriend went through when they were home.
"Ichika." She muttered softly. Yukiko's eyes widened and her mouth fell open a bit when she heard that.
"The Orimura boy? I suppose that we are going to be seeing him. He might even catch your performance as the Kagura Dancer." Houki found that a nice idea.
"I am happy to help." It wouldn't be an issue for her though. She knew that Ichika would come around to the festival eventually. A part of her was happy that Ichika would come around.
Houki would need to be clean and the heat had finally set in. In a traditional bath, she could take hers and it was something that she could enjoy. After she had rinsed, she sank into the hot water. Looking at her arm, she saw the closed-up form of Akatsubaki.
'If neesan hadn't invented the IS.' Houki shook her head. Tabane had told her of what she did and why she did it. There was no use in dwelling on the past.
The Infinite Stratos was the reason why she and Ichika lost six years but it was the very same machine that was now bringing them together. She would never leave him. They had at least sixty years to have together.
The voice of her aunt called to her.
"Houki-chan, after you're finished, would you take care of the omikuji counter?"
She called to the outside.
"Got it." The sun came through and Houki sank in the water. She couldn't wait until tonight.
Scene skip
Chifuyu had dressed a bit better for this occasion. The dress wasn't low-cut and it was longer on her legs. It showed a bit off though. Her twins were out already the door. The Shinonono festival. If she was a spoilsport, she would go.
But she had something better. And if she could be honest, a more mature company could be appreciated. Maya was nice to a degree but she found that being around Itsuka was intoxicating. The restaurant was something you could go to with a family but it also had nice places to sit.
"Looks like you are on time." Her mouth watered when she saw Itsuka. He had dressed up for the occasion. The vest stood him well and the black matched his hair. The trousers were a nice burgundy.
"Indeed." He was pulling out all stops.
"I have to say. You are dressed well." Chifuyu smiled back at him as she liked the eye candy he was providing to her.
"Same here. You are very handsome as well." She didn't expect him to blush from that but it was something she kept in mind.
"Thank you. Shall we?" Offering his arm, Chifuyu really liked how the place looked. It was a mix of a bar and restaurant. A cozy feeling but the food was dominant.
"Very nice place. What do you suggest?" Itsuka pecked on the cheek. Chifuyu found that it was enough to make her swoon.
"They change here. I wonder what it will be this time. Summer always has surprises. Their beef recipes are very good."
Chifuyu wouldn't be home early. This time, they would spend a long time together.
Scene skip
When a friendly smile and a black mop of hair stood before her, Houki realized Ichika had come by to greet her.
"Evening." The shock quickly went by as the woman grabbed Ichika by his shirt. She was wearing a white kimono with a red undershirt. It made her look a bit sexy if Ichika could be honest. The loving kiss was sealed on his lips. Ichika didn't complain about it.
Ichika thought he heard her moan a bit.
When they let go, their foreheads pressed against the other. She looked into his eyes.
"You have no idea how much I wanted to do that." Houki blushed when she let him go. Ichika smiled back at her.
"Figures. We had an entire day yesterday where we cooked and today, you had the festival." He looked up and down at her.
"What do you think?"
"You look amazing." She blushed back at Ichika when she heard that. Her open mouth was a bigger shock to her.
"What? Did you think I would say something else?" Touching her cheek, Houki nuzzled in his hand.
"Have more confidence in yourself, I have that in you." Houki's blush got to epic proportions.
"You look awesome in those clothes." His eyes were serious and when he pushed her closer, he whispered in her ears.
''The days that you could be called a tomboy are long gone. Believe me, when I tell you, you have become a stunning lady.'' Before they could continue their flirting, Yukiko popped up from behind.
"Houki-chan, you can go have some fun now." The girl wasn't sure about it.
"But I have work." Yukiko shook her head.
"It's fine if you come back by the time the Kagura dance. Hello there, Ichika-kun." Ichika waved to the woman behind the walls.
"Yukiko-obasan. It's been a while." The woman came up closer to the couple.
"Well, look at you. You have become a great young man." Turning to her niece, she decided that Houki should wear something else. "There is a yukata for you lying in the back. Go have some fun with your boyfriend." And with that, Houki moved back to the place to change.
"It appears you are dating my niece." Ichika scratched the back of his head while he got a blush himself. Yukiko giggled when the boy's reaction told her enough. They would need to keep Ryuuin out of it before he would go after Ichika.
They wouldn't get grandkids from Tabane and Yukiko would be damned if they never got to play grandmother.
"Indeed. I mean, I was thinking of properly confessing to her at the festival but on the trip, I told her about it and she said yes." Yukiko giggled when she heard that news.
"And you two have already kissed and stuff." Ichika found that his blush was beginning to get bigger.
"Kisses yes but not the other stuff." Yukiko was relaxed when she heard that. Ichika had always been a serious child and it carried over.
"You think of doing that?" Ichika would NOT tell her about the gift of Mattheus but what good would lie do?
"I think that is a bit too early." Yukiko found those answers to be decent enough.
"I do have to ask you, Ichika-kun. How have things been?"
"Crazy." That was the best way to describe the whole thing of the years.
"I see."
"It would be a long story, Yukiko-obasan and I doubt my girlfriend wants me to tell you all of them." Houki had changed into a flowery design of a kimono.
Ichika was finding that she was looking really good in that.
"Ichika, are you here alone?"
"Nope. Madoka is here with Dan. And I don't want to know how but she has managed to ditch Ran. Now let's make sure that we don't run into her." Ichika offered her an arm and Houki hooked into his.
"I know I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but I am getting you to be with me alone. Plus," he leaned in again. "I also want to have this evening with my girlfriend."
Houki was glad that Ichika could agree on that. The entire night they walked around, arm in arm, looking over the festival. They walked together while they ate and played games. Small banter and sweet memories settled in when they talked about the bits.
"I think that you nearly have your dance."
Houki understood that she had to go. "You are going to watch my performance?"
Ichika winked at her. "I wouldn't miss it for anything. I'll pick you up when you are done." Houki nodded back at him. She could trust him on that matter. Meanwhile, Ichika saw Dan with his sister. She had her head on his shoulder but Ichika knew better than to open his mouth to that.
Scene skip.
Dan had a hard time believing how lucky he got. Madoka had asked him to the festival. He had said yes immediately to that. The chance of being around her was something he would never pass up.
And if he was going to confess to her, this would be the perfect spot. They had a ton of fun in the night. He hadn't remembered Madoka laughing this much while they were having fun with each other.
They just began to fall with each other even more. He helped her catch fish and Madoka nearly died laughing when he tried on a mask.
They just wanted to have the entire time for each other.
His eyes were mesmerized by her appearance.
"What's wrong?" Madoka asked as she twirled around to see him.
"I can't believe how good you look in a yukata." She blushed a storm when she heard that. She looked him over. He had also changed into a black one.
"You as well." After a while, Madoka felt her feet aching from the long walking.
"Dan, can you wait for a second?" Turning his head, he saw that she had squatted down. It had taken a heartbeat before Dan kneeled down at her.
"Are you okay?" The apology came with a smile.
"I'm sorry, I am not used to those sandals." Turning to her, she saw the wide back of Dan. "I take you, you want to sit somewhere." Without a hint of shame, Madoka had gotten herself in the warmth of his back. Easily, Dan stood up and carried the girl in his back.
"Thanks for this."
"You're welcome." He said and Dan tried to look back at her.
"Not too heavy." Madoka teased while she got closer to him.
"You are not. One question though. We are finding a spot to sit?" Dan asked while a couple of kids passed by. The boy, not even seven years old, looked up and down and after that, he gave Dan a thumbs-up before he followed his friends.
"Looks like we got approved."
Dan laughed with her as they moved by fast to find a good place. When they landed at the spot, they saw how Houki moved around the stage gracefully. All were taken in by her beauty.
Houki moved around the place with grace rarely seen. All dressed up while the kimono was done. It was a white outfit with hakama. The hair was decked with golden dressings.
It showed enough of her. She really looked like a princess. More mature as well and the sword was added to the dance. Madoka was captivated by her beauty and Dan was more than impressed by her dances.
"Isn't that Houki?" He whispered in the girl's ear. Madoka nodded to Dan while she pressed her body closer to his.
"Yes." Madoka knew how Houki danced with her mother. How she wished that she was here. But her aunt, Yukiko would be there to watch over the two. Just to be sure, she was sending out a message.
[Ichi-nii?] It took fifteen seconds before she got a reply back from her brother.
[Hey there, Madoka.] She didn't have to look as she heard the message coming from behind her.
[I see you and Dan. I hope you have fun.] Madoka blushed when she heard her brother, teasing her.
[We do. Mind staying out of my way until I confessed?] She felt her brother's aura. It gave her confidence, strength, warmth.
[Sure thing.] Madoka heard from Ichika. She laid her head on Dan's shoulders while they sat back, watching.
When the dance was over, the two stood up.
"Want to watch the fireworks?" Dan asked as he offered her a hand. Madoka agreed on it and hand in hand, they left the stage.
Dan knew the place where to go to have a good watch. Together, they left the place, walking hand in hand away. Madoka placed her head on his shoulder. They were happy now and nothing could disturb their peace.
The festival was seriously packing up and neither Dan nor Madoka wanted someone to get in between them.
"So Dan, any reason why you wanted to come here?" Madoka had guided him away from a cliff where she knew her brother would be around.
Looking back at her face, his eyes went to the sky and back to her. "I heard from Mattheus a lot. You got some good friends looking out for you." Madoka kissed him on the cheek.
"I know that. I heard a lot from others as well." The brown eyes told him more.
"You know, we both know but we have never said it out loud, now did we?" Madoka asked him while Dan colored to the color of his hair. He scratched his head when he heard her say that.
"We didn't but are you sure this is what you want?" Madoka smiled back at the guy. Their walk had taken them to a shrine that wasn't used. They could see the fireworks easily from there but that wasn't their main focus.
Dan took a seat while Madoka was now sitting right next to him.
"I love you, Dan. I have for a long time." His eyes widened as he heard that line.
"I love you too, Madoka." After that, she sealed his lips with her own as they kissed. Fireworks might have been going off but neither of the two was bothered by it.
They had a lot of time to make up for.
Scene skip
Ichika and Houki walked in silence together back to the place to watch the fireworks.
"What are you thinking about, Ichika?" The Knight was quiet and he turned to her. "Just. This. After the kidnapping. Things just went crazy. I'm just thinking back at it all." Houki placed a head on his shoulder.
"I have to agree with you. And if I hear from you and your sister, I think you have seen more than I." Ichika pressed her closer to him. When they reached the place, they could see the entire city. The ISA was shining in the night.
"And summer isn't going to last. Soon, we'll be back there." Houki turned to her boyfriend.
"I am hoping of not. Ichika, what's wrong?" The expression got a bit more serious when she saw him.
"Houki, when we go back there, you have to keep one thing in mind." The shrine maiden turned to him.
Ichika placed his hands on her shoulders.
"That is."
"There are going to be many things in that school. Houki, the only thing, I ask of you is to trust me. I will never betray you. But something tells me that when we are there, we are going to be involved with a lot of incidents." Houki smiled back at him.
She tipped her toes and kissed him again.
"I trust. I love you. And I will never betray you, Ichika." With that, he hugged her back. When the fireworks began, they jumped and let each other go.
A soft giggle came from the two.
The two were just happy with each other with how the entire evening went by. They would have a great view before they would watch the fireworks. Ichika looked back at his girlfriend.
"I think that I haven't properly confessed to you. I mean. Not like I should." They could see more going off. Ichika continued on that.
"I think that I should do that, at least now." Another one went off. Houki agreed with him.
"I love you, Houki Shinonono."
"I love you, Ichika Orimura."
That was the only thing that needed to be said. Ichika claimed her lips and grabbed her by the waist while Houki's hand went around his head. She tasted his lips and her heart was singing with joy.
And this is all for this chapter.
MarloMora, the guy I mentioned before has drawn out the last bits. I would highly recommend checking this title out.
Commission for Kerlongsj HoukiXIchika. Type this in and you'll find it. It's something for the ship here. While I am normally for the harem, I have a slight, very slight, preference for Houki as Ichika's lover. It's something that made this easy to write out.
And during the time between all this, I have asked for quite a few more commissions. Check it out.
I will admit that I had a large focus on Ichika and Houki here, especially towards the end. That is something I'll take responsibility for. It's just that the words came easy to write out and their relationship is already established. For the other couples, that is now coming together.
You guys can expect a chapter on the 26th of January as the next month as the anniversary chapter. Already started writing it.
And before that time, I got something that got into me when I was writing this chapter.
I think that a few radio stations gotta update their Christmas songs. Sabaton's song can be used as the best Christmas song from now on. So when I hear Mariah Carey singing, I'll be turning on a real Christmas message.
Today we're all brothers
Tonight we're all friends
Lest we forget.
And now for something that has been bugging me for a long time.
Omake.
Chifuyu sat back with a content smile on her face. She had always enjoyed the night when things would calm down and where they could enjoy their time off.
She smiled when she thought of the family that she had been building. The twins were one thing of course and with both of them, finding lover(s), Chifuyu would say that a certain melancholy set in. It might be why she would give herself and Itsuka, them, a chance. He certainly had something that she appreciated in him.
He had good qualities and while she would never meet her equal in everything, in what Itsuka could match, the doctor was her equal.
She would trust that Ichika and Houki wouldn't do anything inappropriate. They were both too serious for that. Okay, Houki was. Ichika had no issue playing her tune.
The Brunhilde was about to retire to her room until a car passed by. Her eyes widened as she looked down on them. Five men got out. All dressed up in suits and ties like they weren't just screaming to the world that they were security or some other fucks. Then one opened the door and out walked a figure.
Chifuyu's stomach churned when her eyes met with the woman's. Still wearing that yellow kimono that she had, black hair that reminded her of her sister. Only now, it was getting some sort of gray. Chifuyu quickly took a sword (because she had learned that having a weapon nearby was very useful), and walked outside.
The door closed behind her and the cool evening air caused her to sober up and get more energy. She quickly passed by the small garden where Ichika had spent a summer working things over the plants. She stood outside and turned to the woman.
"Go one more step in the direction of this house and I'll murder you," Chifuyu growled as she looked at the reaction of the group. The security guys looked like they were about to piss themselves. The lady looked amused. Which made Chifuyu only angrier.
"Oh, is this the way you greet me? After what? Two decades?" Chifuyu put the sword on her shoulders and in a very unladylike fashion, flipped the woman the bird.
"Go fuck yourself. How did you find me?" The woman gave a big smile and had her arms open. Like she expected a hug. Chifuyu would never do that. It had taken years before she got used to the hugs of Madoka and Ichika and the reason why she was so averse to physical contact stood before her.
"Such a rude mouth. Did I raise you like this?" Chifuyu looked at the woman that had shat her in existence. What a horrible life that was.
The monster (because she had left the stages of human when she was born) had no idea what it meant to be a mother. Pain and fear were things that Chifuyu grew used to. It was why Phantom Task and their methods could be considered lukewarm compared to the lady here.
Chifuyu left that damned life for a reason.
"You raised me to be anything but what you have become. Why did you come here?" A snort escaped her. Chifuyu had to ask what this woman was. She carried her to term and birthed her but for the other part, that woman wasn't a mother.
Chifuyu had no good idea what being a mother was either but at least, she had some references and if she were to ask Madoka and Ichika, they would say with the fullest conviction that Chifuyu was a mother.
Not like the being in front of her.
"I was wondering what the failure of our family had done. And let me say that I am very impressed. You raised those things to be very efficient."
Izanami would wonder how Chifuyu had the guts to stand up to her. By swiping the sword that cut off a good chunk of her hair.
She had grown.
"They're not things. Refer to them one more time and I'll murder you." Izanami raised an eyebrow. Chifuyu would often be violent but never that worked up. That would only mean that she really cared about those things.
Pathetic really in Izanami's opinion. Those beings had the gall to think they were Orimura while in reality, they were less than the dirt beneath her shoe.
In all honesty, she would have left Chifuyu be because it wouldn't get her anywhere. But her sisters, oh, those naggers, they were bugging her. In her honesty, they were screwed. Without a male heir, they wouldn't be able to continue their lineage. And that was the last thing wanted. So when she knew of Ichika, if that was the boy's name, they could use him.
"Well, they are something else though. Our next best option." Chifuyu wondered what this woman was talking about until she realized something. Oh, hell no.
She would rather die than have her sweet, little brother be taken away. Ichika had his own past as a test subject. Chifuyu would be damned if she let this happen to him.
"You are here for Ichika?"
"That's the name of the male? If that is so, yes. I am here for him. We need him." Chifuyu would have the same feelings for him but they were long gone. Replaced with love as an older sister, caretaker. She adored Ichika but not like that.
"You wish. I will never allow that." Izanami looked at the place.
"Maybe so but still. You dare to stand in my way."
The older woman found a wave of pure rage hitting the stage. It made it clear how much Chifuyu had actually grown.
"Mother, what is taking so long?" An annoyed voice said and Chifuyu's eyes snapped to the front.
That woman brought her along. Out of the car walked another woman with raven hair and a figure that could give Chifuyu's a run for her money. The newcomer was closer to her own age though.
"Chifuyu, I had hoped to never see your face again." Glaring at the woman who was a biological sister, the Brunhilde agreed.
"That feeling is mutual, Chigusa. I take it that you are here for Ichika." The older sister shrugged.
"I'm here for him. It might give us and the others some fun. But in pure honesty, I'm here for the other one, what was it? Madoka. I would love to get my hands on her. After all, when I am done with you, I would like to have her. See how far I can push her. Before I end her pathetic life."
"If you want Zus, it will be over my dead body." Standing on the front, the three Orimura women snapped to see Mattheus standing with his rifle out and aimed at them. Chifuyu had hoped he wouldn't find out.
"I think you have overstayed your welcome. Now, get the fuck out or we'll show you the door." Izanami scoffed when she saw Mattheus' threat.
"I see that you have a guest in your house. How despicable. But given that a fight wouldn't be favorable. It would break you and that boy. Therefore, I have a proposal for you, Chifuyu." The woman hoped that it wouldn't come to fighting.
She had to tell Ichika and Madoka about the horrors in Phantom Task. That was their past.
She wished that she never had to tell her own. But if it came to it, it was better they found out from her.
"I will let you and those two, beings, live your pathetic, boring life. If you can destroy Phantom Task."
Chifuyu was not reacting like Izanami was expecting. Instead of seeing that as a daunting task, she simply turned to Mattheus who simply smiled back at her.
"Say, Adjzof."
"Yeah, Orimura-sensei?" He picked up the tone of her. Kind of ironic, friendly tone.
"Wasn't that something you set out to do?"
"Yep. Top of my long list is to burn that organization into the ground." The Hunter said while he swung his rifle around.
Izanami took the slightest bit of interest in him. "Oh, any reason for that? I don't see why you should get involved on that." Mattheus glared back at the woman and he could never have thought he felt such revulsion for another human being.
"That's something you don't need to know. You told us what we need to do to get you off our back. Now, you have more than overstayed your welcome. But I'm a guest in this house." Chifuyu walked back to the woman who gave birth to her.
"I left your house for a reason. I will never say that it was easy or fun. But compared to the life you had in mind, I am taking this over that any time. Get the fuck out of my lawn and go back to where you come from."
Izanami shook her head when her eyes tore Chifuyu apart.
"You always were a lost cause. It has not changed. But fine, we are leaving." Chigusa walked up to her little sister.
"Pity that you haven't allowed this. It would make things a lot more fun." Chifuyu would have never thought that she would raise a hand against someone like Chigusa.
"They're not your toys. And now beat it. Your mother is calling."
"She's also yours." Chigusa's comment was filled with acid and Chifuyu could never count herself being happier when she felt Mattheus's hand around her shoulder.
"I think that is not the best idea, teach. We already made our point." Glaring at the woman, Mattheus could see how similar Chifuyu and Chigusa were. And yet, there was a cold, a vicious nature that Chifuyu lacked. When the car drove off, Mattheus turned to the teacher who was doing her best to glare him into submission.
The Hunter shrugged when he looked back at Chifuyu.
"Don't do that, please."
Chifuyu took her sword from her shoulders.
"You are not going to ask." The Brunhilde could understand why her little sister liked Mattheus so much.
"You would not tell me so I don't. Do not get involved in something that is not your personal business. So what's between you and those," Mattheus looked in the direction of the road.
"I am not going to ask." Chifuyu thought that Mattheus wanted to move away from the danger zone.
She was wrong.
"What your relationship was. But this involves Zus. Teach, are you…" Chifuyu's glare caused the surrounding area to grow cold and despite the summer heat, Mattheus felt a shiver coming up.
"Be very careful on what you are going to say. Your words might give away the outcome on this." Mattheus was often fearless but he knew damn well that he needed to know.
"Did the older woman shit you into existence and did the other one share the same place before you came on earth?" Chifuyu chuckled inwardly about the language he used. While vulgar and obscene, Mattheus was correct in putting the terms.
"That would be the most correct term of putting it." Looking to the room of Ichika and Madoka, Mattheus was making lines of thought.
Chifuyu wasn't sure if she wanted to lie. She was at a crossroads. Either she told him the real truth and she was far from ready from that or she could sell him the convenient lie that wasn't a lie.
The twins were born from her DNA and so, how much it pained to admit it to herself, they were also related to them.
"And if you wonder about that, yes. I ran away with them to save them from that life." Mattheus found that his respect for his teacher went tenfold.
Up to you guys if we make this canon.
Let me know in the reviews.
Saluut.
