A/N: Hello lads and ladies, im back, I've been uncertain what I wanted to upload as the next throwaway as soon as I get them into a good enough state via notes I read from back when I first read them... I always have a billion different ideas for how it can go... however I believe this throwaway could be interesting read for those wanting to see some different stuff in IS.
Keep in mind that this idea was something I had written up in 2021, August the 6th... some time ago, when I picked it up a few weeks back I added and tweaked some things that just made it a 'Meh' read, I also ran it through the good old chatGPT to refine and improve my grammar and wording so let me know if there is a few misakes still in there. (Thanks neko for always reminding my grammar is bad lmao)
Only through reading my own drafts do I realize how... terrible my grammar is, god how did I get a A in english...lol.
Who Knew? (2021 draft)
Now, Houki never thought of herself as the most observant person on the planet. Or at least that is what she told herself.
Sure, she was good at noticing small things during kendo matches like an opponent's shift in balance or the tightening of their grip, but when it came to social situations? Not so much.
She'd never figured out how Cecilia managed to keep her hair so perfectly curled during sparring, or how Rin could eat three bowls of ramen and still have room for dessert. And don't even get her started on how Charlotte always seemed to know exactly when to step in before things got awkward between Ichika and the others.
But this? This was different. Houki wasn't exactly sure when it happened, but somewhere between the end of the semester and the start of summer training, Ichika had…changed.
It wasn't obvious at first, at least, that's what she told herself.
He was still the same clueless idiot who could barely tell when someone was flirting with him. Still the same guy who'd rather offer to spar than realize that the girls were all subtly trying to impress him. But now?
Now he was taller.
His shoulders had filled out, his posture was more confident, and... Okay, Houki wasn't going to admit it out loud and she knew that... but his arms? More defined.
She'd noticed it during a routine sparring session a few days back
It had been a hot afternoon, the sun beating down on them, and Ichika had shrugged off his jacket, leaving only his thin training shirt. That was when she'd seen it all, the way the fabric clung to his back, how his muscles flexed when he moved, and suddenly, Houki's brain had short-circuited.
Her form had slipped, and before she knew it, Ichika's wooden sword had tapped her lightly on the shoulder. A clean win.
"Houki? Are you okay?"
His voice had been filled with genuine concern, and that only made it worse.
She had no idea how she managed to mutter a half-hearted 'I'm fine' without combusting on the spot.
Her cheeks had burned hotter than the summer heat, and she'd quickly turned away before he could see how flustered she was. Her cheeks red, her face red like a tomato, Houki tried numerous breathing techniques to calm herself down.
That was the first time she'd realized it.
Ichika had grown.
And Houki had absolutely no idea what to do about it.
She really, really wished she could stop noticing it.
But once the thought had planted itself in her mind, it refused to leave. It was like a splinter small, barely there, but impossible to ignore.
It didn't help that Ichika, in his infinite obliviousness, made it worse without even trying.
Like when they were in the cafeteria, and he reached up to grab something from a high shelf without a second thought. A few months ago, he would've struggled, maybe even asked her for help as they were around the same size. Now? He stretched, muscles shifting under his uniform, and Houki had to physically force herself to look away. It's just reaching for a tray! Stop being ridiculous!
Or when they were reviewing battle footage in class. She was trying to focus, really, she was!
But Ichika had leaned forward to point something out on the screen, and for a split second, she caught the faint scent of his shampoo. Fresh, a little citrusy. Not that she was paying attention to that or anything.
The worst part? The others had noticed, too.
Houki first realized it during training when Cecilia called for a break and practically floated over to Ichika's side, tossing him a water bottle with a little too much flair.
"You've been improving, Ichika dear," she said, lips curved in a smile that Houki immediately distrusted. "Your stance is stronger now. More… refined."
Houki swore Cecilia's eyes dipped lower for just a second before flicking back up, and that made her hackles rise.
Then there was Rin.
"Since when you got biceps?" Rin had blurted out one afternoon, poking Ichika's arm with a frown. "This isn't normal. Did someone finally put you on a decent training regimen?"
Houki had expected Ichika to brush it off, maybe laugh, but instead, he just blinked down at his arm like he was only now noticing.
"Huh. I guess I have been training more lately," he mused.
Houki hated how nonchalant he sounded. Like it wasn't a big deal. Like it wasn't messing with her head.
And Charlotte?
She wasn't as obvious, but Houki saw the way she subtly adjusted her usual approach. She'd always been affectionate, but now? Now, she was finding more excuses to lean on Ichika's shoulder, to rest her hand on his when passing him something. She'd smile, soft and sweet, and Ichika, being Ichika, never questioned it.
And that wasn't even mentioning Laura, who had outright declared, "You have become stronger. Good. You will now serve as my sparring partner until I am satisfied," before dragging Ichika off to the training grounds.
Houki wanted to scream.
Because it wasn't fair...
She had noticed first. She was the one who had realized Ichika had changed, who had seen how different he was before anyone else even thought to comment on it. But now? Now it felt like the others were all catching up way too fast for her liking and it made her feel like she was losing ground in a battle she hadn't even realized she was fighting.
And the worst part? Ichika still had no idea. Of course he had no idea, Houki couldn't help but shake her head at the thought.
She could see it in the way he reacted, confused but polite, brushing off the comments as if they were nothing more than passing observations. He wasn't ignoring them, exactly, but he wasn't really thinking about them either.
That should have made her feel better.
It didn't.
Because deep down, something primal in her was starting to stir an instinct that made her grit her teeth every time she saw one of the others get too close, every time Ichika let Charlotte lean on him without a second thought, or when Cecilia flipped her hair and smirked up at him like she was enjoying this way too much.
Like when Rin practically threw herself into his personal space after training, gripping the front of his uniform and squinting up at him.
"I still can't believe this. What the hell, Ichika?" Rin huffed, tugging at his shirt slightly like she was testing its fit. "You actually look kinda athletic now."
"I was always athletic."Ichika frowned.
"Yeah, but now you look it," Rin shot back, poking his stomach, her finger barely sinking in before she snatched it back like she'd touched something forbidden. Her eyes briefly looked up to the young lad, their eyes meeting briefly before a light blush appeared on both of their faces
Houki wanted to grab her next.
Tatenashi, of course, had to make everything worse.
It was never a good sign when Tatenashi... of all people get's involved
The moment she heard the conversation, she immediately made her presence known, slipping in behind Ichika like she had been waiting for the perfect opportunity. Houki seethed at her sudden appearance, she knew Tatenashi was slippery, like an octopus she seemed to slither into their conversations and more over into their life.
"Well, well~" she purred, snaking an arm around his shoulders in a way that made Houki's eye twitch. "It looks like someone's been putting in extra work."
"Not you too." Ichika sighed, He knew he was in for a long day.
Tatenashi ignored him, pressing her free hand against his chest with a grin that made Houki bristle.
"Hm. I think we need a proper assessment of all this progress," Tatenashi mused. "What do you think, Houki? Should we really let him off that easy?"
Houki's face flared red.
Why was she being dragged into this?!
"D-Don't be ridiculous!" Houki snapped. "He doesn't need to be 'assessed' for anything!"
"Oh?" Tatenashi tilted her head, her smirk way too amused. "So you haven't been wondering about it at all?"
Houki froze.
A beat of silence.
Then—
"Tatenashi—"
"Come on~" Tatenashi cut her off before she could even begin her counterargument. "Aren't you just a little curious?"
Houki clenched her fists.
Curious?
She had been trying not to think about it! And now, thanks to this, the thought was shoved right back to the front of her mind.
And worse, Tatenashi knew.
She always knew.
It was infuriating. It was really Infurtiating.
Ichika, completely oblivious to the mental war raging in Houki's head, groaned. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"
Tatenashi beamed. "Nope~."
Ichika sighed again, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine. What do you even want me to do?"
Tatenashi's grin turned wicked.
"Well, I was thinking…" She tapped a finger against her chin in mock consideration before her eyes gleamed with mischief. "Maybe we should take this somewhere more… private."
The way she dragged out that last word made Ichika stiffen immediately.
Houki nearly broke something.
"What the hell do you mean by that?!" Houki demanded, already feeling the heat rise in her face.
Tatenashi just laughed, the picture of pure amusement.
"Oh, don't look so flustered, Houki-chan~. If you're so concerned, why don't you come along too?"
Houki blinked.
Wait. What?
Ichika also blinked, looking between them like he had completely lost the plot.
"What—?!"
Before either of them could protest, Tatenashi was already dragging them forward, her grip on Ichika firm as she steered them toward his dorm.
Houki wasn't sure how it happened.
But one second, she was standing there, seething, and the next, she was holding onto Ichika's other arm, walking in lockstep beside him.
How.
How did this happen?!
Ichika, for his part, looked deeply overwhelmed, but at this point, he seemed to know better than to fight it.
By the time they reached his dorm, Houki had barely collected her thoughts, and Ichika still looked like he had no idea what was going on.
Then, as soon as they were inside, Tatenashi spun on her heel, leaning back against the door with a lazy smile.
"Alright then~," she purred, eyes locking onto Ichika like a cat with a cornered mouse. "Time for that assessment."
Ichika tensed.
Houki tensed harder.
Tatenashi's smirk grew.
Ichika swallowed.
"Why… do I feel like I should be worried?"
Tatenashi giggled, stepping forward and casually pressing a hand to his chest.
Houki twitched.
Tatenashi hummed thoughtfully.
"Hmm… Yep. Firmer," she teased, fingers giving a deliberate press. "Ichika, have you been working out extra hard? You wouldn't happen to be trying to impress someone, would you?"
Ichika choked.
Houki felt her face go up in flames.
"W-WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?!" Houki snapped, grabbing Ichika's other arm again, squeezing hard. "OBVIOUSLY NOT!"
Ichika, at this point, was completely short-circuiting.
"Y-Yeah! I just do my normal training!" he stammered, face burning as he tried to step away—only to find that both were holding onto him.
Tatenashi giggled. "Ohhh? So, this is just natural, then? That's even more impressive~."
Houki swore she saw something dangerous in her expression.
And the worst part?
She wasn't sure if she was more flustered by Tatenashi's teasing,shecouldn'tbelieveherfriendwouldteaseherlikethat.
Or the fact that she still kind of wanted to know herself.
It wasn't fair that Ichika had changed so much and still hadn't noticed how the girls around him were acting differently. It wasn't fair that his growth in all areas including both in strength and presence made him stand out even more.
And it wasn't fair that she was the first to notice it, yet the last to figure out what to do about it.
{Nextscene}
Maya Yamada prided herself on being a diligent instructor.
She wasn't as intimidating as Chifuyu—few people were—but she had her own strengths. She was patient, approachable, and, most of all, observant.
Or at least, she thought she was.
Which was why, when Ichika Orimura stepped into the staff room and stood in front of her desk, she had to take a moment.
"…Ichika?" she blinked, tilting her head slightly.
Ichika, standing with his usual polite posture, scratched the back of his neck. "You asked to see me, right?"
Maya nodded absently. Right. She did.
She should be focused on the report she needed to go over with him. She should be thinking about his academic performance, his combat evaluations, or literally anything else.
But instead...
Instead, her brain got stuck on a completely different realization.
Since when was Ichika this tall?
He had always been slightly taller than her, but it was never something she consciously noticed before. Now, however, she had to tilt her chin up a little more than usual.
And it wasn't just his height.
His shoulders had broadened. His posture was unconsciously stronger. Even the way his uniform fit—it used to be just slightly loose around his frame, but now? Now, the fabric settled comfortably against his torso, highlighting lean muscle that had definitely not been as noticeable before.
Had he… always looked this refined?
Maya felt an embarrassing heat rise to her cheeks.
Oh, no.
It was subtle, but now that she was really looking, there was something undeniably different about him. She could just tell.
The soft, boyish features she was used to seeing had begun to give way to something a little sharper. His jawline was slightly more defined, his cheekbones a touch more pronounced. Even his eyes,still warm, still unmistakably his, had an added intensity to them that hadn't been there before. A manliness that was never there before.
And oh, that was a dangerous thought.
She should not be staring at him like this. Especially not her student no less!
She should not be noticing the way his uniform's collar lay slightly open, exposing just the faintest hint of collarbone. She couldn't help but let out a gulp
She should definitely not be wondering what it would feel like to... well... nevermind.
Maya pressed her lips together and willed her thoughts back to something appropriate.
This was not the kind of thing she should be thinking about.
She was his instructor! It wasn't her job to notice how much he had grown into himself! She knew she should praise him and go about her day.
And yet…
Now that the thought had entered her mind, it refused to leave.
Her fingers twitched against the stack of papers on her desk, suddenly feeling far too flimsy to serve as any kind of distraction.
Ichika shifted slightly, waiting for her to say something, completely unaware of the crisis unfolding in her head.
"Maya-sensei?"
His voice was deep when had that happened? and so close. The sound of her name on his lips sent a completely unwelcome shiver down her spine. She didnt like the effect his mere voice had on her... Her legs felt like they could give out any second.
She barely managed to stop herself from flinching.
She had definitely been staring. A light blush plastered across her pale face.
Maya quickly adjusted her glasses, pretending to focus on the papers in front of her even though she hadn't registered a single word.
"Y-Yes, Ichika-kun?" she asked, clearing her throat a little too forcefully.
Ichika gave her a slightly confused look. "You kinda zoned out for a second there."
Maya absolutely did not just zone out while checking out her own student.
Nope. That didn't happen.
She forced out an awkward laugh, waving a hand in dismissal. "Ahaha! S-Sorry about that! I was just, um… thinking!"
Ichika tilted his head. "About what?"
You.
Maya nearly smacked herself. She really wanted to smack herself!
No, no, no! Not like that!
"I—uh—I was just remembering that I forgot to, um, file some reports! Yes! That's it!" she blurted out.
"…Okay?" Ichika blinked.
It was clear he didn't fully believe her, but thankfully, he wasn't the type to push. Ichika raised his eyebrows in confusion, unsure what was going on in Maya's brain.
Still, there was something in the way he looked at her, something almost… curious.
A strange silence stretched between them.
For a moment, Maya thought she might get away with it, just push through the meeting, avoid thinking about anything inappropriate, and pretend this whole thing never happened.
But then Ichika shifted again, resting one hand against the desk as he leaned in slightly. Not in a teasing way, not in an intentional way of course!
Just naturally.
Right?
And suddenly, he was too close.
Not inappropriately close, but close enough that she caught the scent of his shampoo. Fresh, a little citrusy, with the faintest hint of something deeper.
Maya froze.
Ichika blinked at her, clearly wondering why she looked like a deer caught in headlights.
And that was the moment she knew.
She was in serious trouble.
{scenechange}
Tabane Shinonono liked to think of herself as a woman who noticed things.
It came with the territory of being a genius. Patterns, shifts, anomalies, her mind picked up on them without effort, connecting dots before anyone else even realized there were dots to connect.
And right now?
Her rabbit ears pricked up at the site of something that caught her attention.
Right now, she was looking at something very interesting.
She had only meant to drop off a little gift. A surprise for her adorable Ichika-kun. It had been ages since she last saw him in person far too long, in her opinion so when the opportunity presented itself, well, how could she not stop by?
She hadn't expected to find this. Her eyes widened briefly at the sight.
Perched on his bedroom windowsill, hidden in the shadows, she watched as Ichika peeled his shirt off with absentminded ease.
Tabane blinked.
Tilted her head.
And then blinked again.
Oh.
Oh my.
When had this happened?
Ichika had always been a bit on the lean side. Strong, sure, any IS pilot had to be of course, but he'd still had that softness that came with being a growing boy. Where had the boy that was so cute gone to? Now he was replaced with a hunk of a man she had no idea what to do with...
This, though?
This was different.
The dim glow of his bedside lamp cast shadows over his torso, highlighting muscle definition she didn't remember being there before. His shoulders had filled out, his arms were noticeably more toned, and oh? Was that the faint outline of abs she saw?
Tabane felt something dangerous curl in her stomach. Her eyes gleamed menacingly.
Curiosity.
Fascination.
How had she not been keeping up with this development?
She didn't have time to wonder for long.
"Ara~? Now this is a pleasant surprise."
The words left her lips before she could stop herself. Not that she wanted to stop herself where was the fun in that?
Ichika froze. The feminine voice rendering him absolutely speechless as he stood like a statue in shock, what could he say after all.
Tabane smirked.
Slowly, very slowly, he turned to look at her.
For a moment, he didn't say anything. His brain was clearly still catching up, trying to process why she was there, how she was there.
And then!
"What the hell, Tabane?!"
Oh, his reaction was adorable, she couldn't help but think, she remembered briefly what he used to look like when he was much younger, how she yearned for the clingy boy she once knew. Although the 'Upgrade' was pleasant to look at of course!
Tabane rested her chin in her hands, legs swinging idly.
"Hmm~?" she hummed, letting her gaze flick over him again. Noticing, appreciating. He really had grown up, hadn't he?
"My, my, Ikun," she mused, lips curling into a slow, satisfied smile. "Since when you become so handsome?"
Ichika made a noise that was somewhere between a cough and a strangled wheeze.
Tabane giggled.
Oh, this was going to be fun... Very fun!
She hopped gracefully down from the windowsill, taking her time as she stepped closer. Ichika stiffened but didn't move back. Not yet. She analyzed every bit of him from his eyes to his hair, to his abs, to his arms to his downstairs area...
"Strong arms… broad shoulders…" she let the words trail, circling him slightly, taking in the way his muscles tensed beneath her gaze. "And is that a hint of abs I, see?"
Ichika's entire body locked up. A gulp left the young lad's mouth. He was truly stunned.
Tabane's grin widened.
"Well, well," she continued, tapping a finger against her chin. "No wonder the girls have been acting so funny around you lately."
"Just...why are you here?" Ichika's exasperation was palpable.
Tabane beamed. "Oh! Right! I brought you a present!"
With a flick of her wrist, she produced a sleek, high-tech case from seemingly nowhere. Ichika stepped back, he was caught off guard.
Ichika eyed it like it might explode. "…It's not going to explode, is it?"
Tabane gasped, placing a hand over her heart. "Ichika! You wound me! I would never—" She paused, then tilted her head. "Well, okay, probably never."
Ichika pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm not opening that."
"Oh, but you will."
She took another step forward, voice dipping just slightly. Not teasing, not playful just soft. Her eyes met his, locking onto him with an intensity that made even her pause for a fraction of a second.
Tabane lifted a hand, hesitating just slightly before reaching out...
And then she simply tapped a single finger against his chest.
Ichika felt it. She could tell.
It was barely anything, a light press against solid muscle but his breath hitched, his heartbeat just a little too fast under her fingertip.
Interesting.
Tabane smiled.
"Besides~," she purred, letting her voice drop just enough to really make him squirm, "it'd be a shame if all this new muscle went to waste."
Tabane knew she was playing with fire.
And yet, as she let her finger linger against Ichika's chest, warm, solid, undeniably strong, she found that she didn't particularly care.
It was fun watching him squirm.
Too fun.
Ichika had always been adorable, but now? Now, he was something else entirely.
The realization was a dangerous one.
Ichika took a step back, finally breaking the contact, and she could practically see the tension in his body.
"You're doing that thing again," he said, voice laced with suspicion.
Tabane blinked innocently. "What thing?"
"That thing where you act all mysterious and smug and weird."
Tabane gasped, placing a dramatic hand over her heart. "Ikun! Are you saying I'm not normally weird?"
"That's not—" He stopped, exhaled sharply, and rubbed his temples. "Look, can you just tell me why you're here without making it some kind of game?"
Tabane hummed.
Where was the fun in that?
But then, as she studied him...really studied him, a new thought curled in the back of her mind.
Should she be doing this?
He was Chifuyu's little brother.
Her best friend's little brother.
She had known him since he was a child back when he was just a tiny, wide-eyed thing clinging to Chifuyu's sleeve.
And yet…
He wasn't that kid anymore, was he?
The boy had grown.
And the woman in her, the part of her that wasn't a genius scientist, but just a woman was noticing in ways she probably shouldn't.
Tabane pursed her lips, something unreadable flickering across her expression.
Was it wrong?
…Maybe.
Did that stop the curiosity burning in her chest?
Not in the slightest.
"Hmm~," she murmured, folding her arms, tilting her head. "You know, Ikun, you've really changed."
Ichika gave her a wary look. "You just noticed?"
"Oh, I noticed." Her voice was almost too smooth, too knowing. "I just didn't expect it to be so… fascinating."
Ichika shifted uncomfortably.
She liked that.
Liked how the balance had shifted, how the little brother of her best friend was suddenly looking at her like she was dangerous.
Because she was.
"Oh, relax, Ikun," she finally said, waving a hand. "I'm just having a little fun."
"Yeah, that's what worries me."
Tabane chuckled, placing the mysterious case on his desk with a soft thud. "Here. A little something to help you with your training."
"And it's not going to explode?"Ichika eyed it. Then her.
"Honestly, you have so little faith in me." Tabane pouted, regardless Ichika still did not trust her one hundred percent.
"That's because the last time you gave me something, it nearly imploded in my hands."
"Details, details~."
Ichika sighed. "Fine. I'll check it out later."
Tabane clapped her hands together. "Good boy."
Ichika flinched at the phrase, shooting her a look that only made her more amused. Ichika did what he was intending to do earlier before Tabane's intrusion and put the t-shirt he had gotten out of his wardrobe. Tabane looked at him ith a playful grin, wanting to tease him more for him needing new t-shirts.
But as much as she wanted to keep teasing him, something in her told her to stop.
Because this? This could get dangerous. Very dangerous infact.
For both.
"Well," she said, turning back toward the window. "As much as I'd love to stay and see just how much more you've grown, I do have places to be."
Ichika's shoulders visibly relaxed.
Tabane grinned.
Interesting. It was of course very interesting to Tabane, of course it was when it came to Ichika.
She hopped up onto the sill with effortless ease, one leg dangling over the edge. Before she could leave, however...
"Tabane."
She paused, slowly turning back to the young man behind her. Their eyes meeting briefly.
Ichika was looking at her, something unreadable in his eyes.
"…What?" she asked, more curious than anything.
"…Never mind." He shook his head. "Just… don't cause trouble, okay?"
Tabane smirked. "Oh, Ikun, dont worry... I'll be back for you my dear Ikun~" she purred, voice light, teasing, but carrying something else underneath. "What fun will we have next Ikun?" She said with a sultry tone, licking her lips.
And with that, she was gone.
Have any feedback? Let me know :)
Side note, if anything seems off let me know, when I picked up this draft from a memory stick from my old house and when I started working on it I had to rework a lot for my first being back properly as it was unfinished and needed tweaking. Thanks to Vulcan too!
-Kano.