The second chapter of the rewrite, is not a lot for the author note to talk about here.
Except some parts to be changed, merged, and generally more put together.
Onward to the cafe!
As usual, I the author don't own anything.
-0-
"Wonder if Hari's going to be alright…"
"We can check on him later, maybe even sneak in a snack from the cafeteria."
"The head nurse won't like it."
"Well, she can complain after Hari gets better."
Ichika honestly wondered how carefree Nora could be, not only did he have a personal IS alongside Hari but his presence here was sponsored by Interior Union, that's one way to guarantee you get the chance to attend the IS Academy.
'Corporate sponsor huh?'
He is reminded of Chifuyu's old works before the academy, going all around the globe testing dozens of IS frames and pieces of equipment, she stopped doing it after his kidnapping. Honestly, he still feels bad about that, clipping his sister's wings.
"Still I can't believe you agreed to skip class together with me." Nora slyly grinned at Ichika whose face suddenly turned pale from terror. Even now he is still mentally screaming in terror.
His first day in school and he already skipped class.
'Big Sis is going to kill me!' Echoes loudly within his mind, he wonders if anyone going to visit his grave if he kicked the bucket today or the day after.
As the two of them make their way back to their class the first thing Ichika notices is how quiet things are, no chattering from the girls, Is the lesson already over, looking to his companion who just shrugs and opens the classroom door to find Ms. Yamada who was organizing some of the student's textbooks.
"Oh, Sumika, Orimura. Good, I was just about to look for you two."
"Huh?"
"Hm?"
The two turned at her at the same time and her expression suddenly turned wry, must be because it's so weird to see two different people with the same face but different personalities.
Ichika hoped Nora wasn't some sort of evil twin/clone sent by some evil corporation to kill him in his sleep.
"Um... We have a room for you in the dorms now," she said while handing Ichika a piece of paper with a room number and key on it.
"Wait, what about Nora?"
All students of the IS Academy lived in the dorms. It was more out of obligation than anything else. Supposedly, the reason for it was to be quick in response to protect the future IS pilots. At least that's what it's written anyway, Chifuyu told him before entering that it's just 'lip service' or something.
The adult world is scary and complicated, talented and competent pilots are highly sought-after people after all. Both by the Corporations and Nations all across the world.
"Oh, Sumika already has his dorm room," she explained with a sheepish expression, Ichika wondered for a moment if his fellow Japanese was his roommate who gave him a peace sign at the mention.
Yep, there is hope somewhere that he won't need to share a room with a girl.
"Huh… that was quick, I thought they told me I'd be commuting from home for a week."
Not that he is complaining, it has been a habit to commute back home ever since Big sis work schedule had gotten inhumanly busy, he only got a peek when he was roughly thirteen years old, and never in his life did he see a schedule more jam-packed than a bento.
He prays that she gets enough rest.
"Well, things have changed. We've made certain arrangements with the room allocations to make this possible." Then she leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Orimura, did the government tell you that?"
Despite the raid emergences of the male pilots, they are still generally outnumbered in many aspects, popularity and protection are considered the foremost concerns… depending on the perspective that's for sure.
It's pretty much a guarantee that if a male pilot was found, the media, ambassadors, and eventually even research institutes, all show up on your doorstep. Being called a rare specimen or something sounds incredibly dehumanizing.
"After all the chaos, they wanted to put you into the dorm as fast as possible. In a month or so you will have your own room," she pulled back while fixing her glasses. "but for the time being, you will have to share one."
"Um… Ms. Yamada, will I share a room with Nora?"
Come on! Don't let your atrocious luck ruin this only chance of getting a male roommate! He'll even take being in Hari's room too!
"Oh, I... Um…"
The vice-teacher suddenly looked confused at the question, wait. Why is she acting confused? Isn't it common sense to put the student with the same gender in the same room?
"Before that, what about his belongings?" Nora suddenly asked while glancing at Ichika.
Nicely done! If he could give a telepathic thumbs up he would have done so at the question. Wondered if they allow him to leave early to pack up his stuff, a man can't sustain himself with a single underwear and a set of clothes.
"Oh, that won't be-"
Before Ms. Yamada could answer a chill suddenly springs forth from his spine and spreads to the base of his skull.
"I took care of it. Thank me later," Chifuyu butted in.
"Th-Thank you so much..." Ichika muttered.
"I only got you the bare necessities for life: a change of clothes and your phone charger."
That was the barest of the bare, was she trying to push him into the life of a monk or something?
A man deserves some of his luxuries at least.
"It says on the paper when you can go to the Cafeteria," Chifuyu points at the piece of paper which causes her younger brother to unfold it revealing a detailed schedule from the cafeteria to the communal large bath. " Every room has a shower, but we have a large bath as well. The different grades have different times for the bath."
"Uh, why do the boys have stricter bath time?" He inquired, he like a good bath and a long soak after a exhausting day.
"Are you stupid? Or do you want to bathe together with girls your age?"
Chifuyu's eyes sharpened at the question, daring him to answer it.
"Oh..."
Realization settled in on the strict bath hours, the girl population of the academy still outnumbers the boys by a huge margin.
"Y-You want to go into the bath with girls?! N-No! You can't!" cried Ms. Yamada.
Nora suddenly snorted and quickly covered his face as Chifuyu's hands chopped his head which caused him to yelp in pain.
"S-sorry…"
Suddenly he is feeling a massive sense of Deja Vu…
"I-I'm not saying I want to..."
He wanted to be anywhere but here now… god knows what kind of rumors are being produced en masse by everyone.
Suddenly the former Brunhilde coughed into her hand getting the attention of Ms. Yamada as she tapped her wrist.
"Ms. Yamada, we still have a meeting you know?"
"Oh! That's right… Um, we have a meeting now, so... You have to go to the dorms afterward, Orimura. Don't loaf around on the way."
It's not like he has anywhere else to go as he watches the two teachers walk down the hallway leaving him and his doppelganger who still rubbing his head from the devastating chop to the head.
"Say… uh what's your dorm room number?"
Please say 1025.
Please say 1025.
Please say 1025.
He was praying at this point as Nora looked at him in confusion Ichika felt some part of his hopes slowly withered away.
"It's 1027."
Ah, it would be so nice to scream in despair. Sighing Ichika decided mentally that enough was enough and went to find his dorm room.
It has been a very long day.
-0-
"Still, are you fine with this Ms. Orimura?" Maya asked her as she handed the tablet over, the meeting went well despite everything else that happened today, thankfully nothing is too severe enough to warrant extra measures.
Well, besides that the older Alcott came over with her sister in tow and forced her to bow down in apology right after the meeting.
"I am deeply sorry for my younger sister's action."
Honestly, Wynne D Alcott reminded her too much of herself, shouldering so many responsibilities in an attempt to shield her younger sister from any harm. Losing one's parent at such a young age must have been difficult for the two.
"Fine about what exactly?"
"Your younger brother?"
"That fool can handle himself," she turns away, looking outside the window and seeing the evening sky, just another flock of the Academy's local ravens flying away. Such an odd animal to choose this place to roost and build a nest.
Honestly? She was somewhat worried that Ichika would be overwhelmed or even crushed by the weight of being an IS pilot, though it seemed her worries were unfounded since he quickly made friends with the other two male students.
For a split second her expression turned blank as she sighed ever so slightly, it's difficult enough finding out that Issac is still alive, not after what he said about her younger brother. Those Foundation bastards won't lay their slimy hands on him as long she is alive.
"Oh! I almost forgot but Mr. Berlioz has completed his daughter's documents." The green-haired teacher suddenly spoke up.
Berlioz's daughter?
Ah, must be Laura, it has been some time since she contacted the girl after she left Germany. Imagine her surprise that she was adopted by the former French number one.
Berlioz too seems to have fully settled into the role of a father, not to mention she didn't see Supplice anywhere on him.
"Get her into my class, it would be nice to have one less idiot."
"Will do," The green-haired teacher happily tapped at the table she had been clutching close to her chest. "Oh! And Fiona asked if we are available for a hang out later tonight?"
"That woman's work ethic is terrifying." Chifuyu sighed rubbing her forehead, how did Fiona manage to deal with all the paperwork and more in such a timely manner is still a mystery even to her. "She's even more workaholic than me."
Oh, the irony.
"Is that a… no?"
It's not like she has anything better to do tonight than combing past old entries about the project and brooding about her plans.
"I'll be there. I could use the drinks."
"Yay~ I'll contact Fiona right away!"
Chifuyu watches as Maya happily skips away down the hallways, it didn't take long for her to vanish out of her sight leaving her alone with her thoughts. Friends like Maya are so far and few.
She should count herself lucky.
The same can't be said with Tabane though.
Chifuyu slowly opened the door to the teacher's room and once more it was bereft of any souls, the place had become somewhat of a heaven for her to take off her mask as she released a long sigh.
She's so tired, yet she has so far to go.
She glances down toward the bottom drawer where she keeps her most personal belongings, and her hand twitches as it reaches down, it's such a strange irresistible pull. Wrapping her fingers around the handle she gently pulled it out.
There's barely anything in there, a picture of her and Ichika when he was just about to enter elementary school, a gleaming dog tag that still maintained its luster, and lastly a sleek black Hardisk.
Maya had long cracked the thing open for her not that long ago yet… she was still too afraid to open the files inside herself, grabbing the dog tag Chifuyu brought it near her face as she leaned back on her office stool.
The numbers are still clearly visible despite her best attempt to erase them.
"Should have thrown you into the ocean long ago…"
Her fingers traced the edge of the dog tag, she could easily snap it into two or crush it like an empty soda can. Yet she always hesitated.
"What a messed up and ugly number…."
There's nothing she can do right now, nothing but dropping the dog tag back into her drawer and shoving it close.
Out of her sight, out of her mind.
"I should go and take a bath now… Maybe check on the idiots as well."
She would hate having to write damage reports on the student's first night in the IS Academy Dorm.
-0-
The Cafeteria sure is a pleasant place to be in.
Ichika admitted the food is great especially when you have great friends to share them with especially when you're having a Japanese breakfast, incidentally; there was rice, natto, sliced salmon, miso soup, and also some vegetables as a side.
While everyone else table seemed to be in a good mood Ichika felt that his table was quite tense…
Must be because of last night, it was honestly quite eventful…
Too eventful perhaps. Finding out that he is sharing his room with Houki was one thing but walking in when she just finished taking a bath?
He was lucky big brother Shinkai wasn't there or he would have been forced to commit Sepukku.
Bamboo swords should be considered a lethal weapon in the hand of the Shinonono, he mentally added remembering how easily it pierced the wooden door and maybe cracked his skull for a good measure.
Opposite of him was Houki who still glared at him for some reason meanwhile beside him was Nora, chewing through his extra plate of fried salmon.
'Must be his favorite…' Ichika thought as he remembered that his lookalike ate also nothing but fish during dinner last night.
"Hey..."
"Hey, are you still angry at me?"
"I'm not angry," said Houki, curtly taking a bite out of her sliced salmon while sparing glances at the nearly identical people in front of her, a keen-eyed person would have noticed the occasional eye twitches from her.
"You look angry to me," Nora commented taking a sip from his miso soup while elbowing Ichika lightly.
"I always look like this."
The two boys shared a glance at each other, it was a split second and light-speed communication, and among them was Nora blaming Ichika for whatever noise he made in the dorm.
"Houki, this is really good."
Ichika attempted to switch the conversation to anything but what they were talking about right now but Houki was ignoring Ichika. Still, she took a bite of the salmon, as if to acknowledge agreement.
Nora started to nervously drink the rest of the Miso Soup as his eyes darted between Ichika and the girl in front of him, he wanted to say something but feared that their similar appearances and not to mention voices would make things harder.
Despite living with his sister he still doesn't understand the inner workings of a woman's heart, what's the big deal with seeing someone's panties? He used to wash Chifuyu's clothes for a long time, in fact, so Icika wasn't going to freak out over some panties.
The again… That was only his side of the story.
"Honestly, the line was far too long," Ichika looked up hopeful after hearing his voice, Hari looked much better compared to yesterday. "Oh, is this seat taken?"
He points at the empty seat beside Houki who is about to say something but is cut off by Ichika and Nora's frantic reply.
"It's empty go right ahead!"
"Yep! Yep! What my doppelganger said!"
The redhead only raised an eyebrow before shrugging and placing his tray on the table as he slowly settled on his seat he turned around to face Houki. "Hari, Hari Kinovar. Nice to meet you Shinonono."
"Oh… um… nice to meet you, Hari..."
It was awkward to see Houki caught by surprise and with a flustered expression too.
"You like oatmeal, Hari?" Nora asked as he leaned forward on the table after finishing the miso soup, judging from his expression oatmeal isn't exactly his favorite.
"It is one of my favorites, shame there are no berries to be added," Hari admitted before he started eating, leaving the table in silence intending to finish his breakfast before class started.
"So, Houki..."
"D-Don't use my name."
"Shinonono?"
"..."
It sounded so much worse in everyone's head, that Ichika tapped his finger on the table as if trying to signal for help. Looks like calling her by her last name, but that didn't seem to make her happy, either. Houki still didn't like her name.
Well, there was a bit of a story behind that.
She hardly ever looked at Ichika, and if their eyes met by accident, she'd look away. Was she really angry or is it something else? Even then there is still hope to regain some semblance of peace.
"Oh! Um… how's big brother Shinkai? I heard he is attending the IS academy too."
Nora and Hari suddenly choke at their respective drink and food at the mention of the name, did they know Shinkai? Their reactions tell Ichika that they knew Houki's big brother.
"W-why… don't you ask him y-your self!"
Oh, come on! Was that topic also a bust? He is running out of cards to play here, well… he still have one more think o try and ask.
"You're quite unreasonable to poor Ichika," A cool masculine voice said behind Houki as suddenly someone stood behind her and a hand gently landed on her head petting her a few times. "I thought you were looking forward to seeing him again?"
"Inoue!"
Houki gently pushed the hand on her head away as she pouted and her face turned crimson red glaring at the person behind her who raised both hands as a sign of surrender.
"Peace, peace I recently heard that my adorable little cousin broke the dorm's door with her bamboo sword."
The rumor even spread to the upperclassmen?!
Standing behind Houki was her older cousin: Inoue Shinkai Shinonono, sharply dressed compared to the first-year students with a yellow necktie, his long dark brown hair tied into his trademark style of low-ponytail. He looked much taller than when Ichika saw him. Dignified as well like the samurai of old.
"It's been a while, Ichika," Shinkai greeted him with a wave before his hand landed back on Houki's head much to her dismay, though she was powerless to do anything but pout in defiance. "And you two as well."
"Why are you even here?" Houki asked, pushing away the hand of her head while looking at her cousin dead in the eye.
"Just checking on behalf of a friend," Shinkai admitted with a shrug. ""Is that you, Hari? You looked worse than the last time we met."
The Russian rolled his eyes at the remark. "Better than ever actually, what about you?"
"So-so I guess, especially after Junichi fight with his sister, it's honestly a mess."
"...who?"
"Thermidor."
"Ah."
Now Ichika wanted context and before he could ask for any sort of explanation Shinkai turned around after hearing someone shouting his name in the distance sighing as he waved the table goodbye.
"Say, how did you know him?" Ichika asked Hari who glanced at Nora whose entirely silent during the conversation.
"Ask Nora, he also knows Shinkai."
"I left Orca alright."
"You did?" Hari asked with a raised eyebrow at Nora's answer. "Why?"
"It's not like you'll understand… my reasons."
What the hell is Orca and what does a whale have to do with Nora, Shinkai, and Hari?
Before he could ask either one of them suddenly there was a loud clap ringing out throughout the cafeteria. It was Chifuyu. "How long are you going to stay here and eat? Finish your food efficiently. If you're late for class, I'll make you run ten laps."
Naturally, everyone quickly returned to eating, some of course quickly chugged down whatever drinks they got from the cafeteria, like Nora who downed the last remaining water from his glass.
Not… before coughing and wheezing followed by some hiccups.
"There There…" Ichika patted his friend on the back to try and ease the coughing.
He can understand the sudden sense of urgency and perhaps dread, a single lap around the IS campus was five kilometers long. Having to run all of it was no joke. Ichika quickly finished his food as fast as possible as well. His and Nora's battle with Cecilia was next week.
He had to be able to pilot the IS with some degree of proficiency by then.
At the same time, the younger Orimura cannot help but think if Nora or Hari could give him some pointers on piloting one.
Actually… what IS he going to use against Cecilia?
Eh… an issue for him tomorrow, surely It'll work out somehow, right?
-0-
"Yeah… you have zero chance of winning."
"Nada."
In the end, it did not. Everything went downhill after Ichika asked if any standard mass-produced IS frames could in theory win against a Personal IS Frame. Ichika slumped over his table.
In combination with barely understanding the fundamentals. It was like a math question that couldn't be solved, the sort of math that needed a specific formula the sheer vocabulary involved made his head spin.
What is FCS?
How does ACS affect an IS?
"I... What?"
In a way, Ichika is more confused about the almost contradictory answer given to him by Nora who is drinking from his water bottle.
"It depends on the skill, the IS suit is just half of the entire whole, a skilled pilot could easily defeat anyone with a stock IS frame, you don't have any chance because… well you suck at piloting."
Ouch. He didn't mince any words, did he?
Ichika wasn't sure what to do, he wondered if there was another alternative to learning to pilot an IS besides sitting in the classroom and listening to Ms. Yamada's lecture. Houki meanwhile, was standing to the side and watching the spectacle. She looked angry, as always, but he decided that didn't mean much.
Life is a learning experience after all.
"Curious question though… how long would I last if we were to fight?" Ichika curiously asked Nora. Surely it can't be that bad right?
"You'll be dead in less than two minutes against me with that kind of sloppy piloting. Less if I decide to snipe you the second you leave the hangar."
Geez, what a way to stomp at someone's already bruised pride.
The classroom was still full of students despite the last lesson ended a good twenty minutes ago, looking around he hadn't seen Alcott as she hurried off. Hell, she doesn't even bother to gloat or do anything similar to him or Nora.
"W-what about with that personal unit Big Sis just told me?"
Honestly, the news was a surprise to everyone, imagine that a first-year student, a total amateur who can barely pilot beyond instinctual reaction getting his own personal unit.
"It depends," Hari replied. "Even if you are given the world's strongest machine without a good understanding of the fundamentals it would mean nothing."
So it's like being given the strongest item ina game but you can't use it beyond just flailing it around.
Makes sense…
Still, to be given a personal unit felt kinda heavy on him. The responsibilities of ownership and all of those stuff.
"By the way, are you free later this weekend?" Nora suddenly asked leaning forward on Ichika's table gripping its edges as his doppelganger loomed ominously on him.
"Y-Yes?"
Might be just his imagination but Ichika swore Houki's ears perked for a few seconds.
"Good, that means we have time to train together, one of the Arena should be open for the weekend-"
Ichika smiled as he wanted to say that he would gladly accept, but was interrupted.
"I will teach him."
All three boys suddenly turn toward the speaker's direction. Houki was standing beside Ichika's table arms crossed as if she were defending her territory against foreign invaders.
"... You sure? It's not like you-"
"My sister is Tabane Shinonono, and Shinkai taught me how to pilot as well," said Houki, reluctantly. Her eyes were uncertain avoiding eye contact with the small gatherings. But she was determined to teach Ichika.
Nora and Hari shared a uncertain look with each other before shrugging, no harm done they concluded. Shinkai is widely known to be one of the best duelist within the Arena circle of the IS Academy.
In combination with her world-class genius's... sister. Most people backed down at the mere mention of their names.
"Still, do you want to visit Original Fantastique with us later?"
Isn't that… the ultra-popular cafe that recently opened on the mainland known for its relaxing and soothing atmosphere and delicious foods and drinks served by colorful employees which many say are the perfect eye candy to enjoy the atmosphere of the cafe.
The same cafe whose owner is the former number one of France: Louis Berliotz.
The same cafe Ichika heard Chifuyu often visits with her colleagues.
"Sure, hey Houki you wanna join us?"
The dark brown-haired girl suddenly blushed red at the sudden invitation by Ichika, she stuttered for a moment trying to comprehend her childhood friend's invitation.
'I-Is he asking me out for a date?!' Her happiness peaked before it suddenly plummeted once more 'But wait… those two are also there..'
There was a barely noticeable tongue click, as Houki suddenly spun on her heels and walked away from Ichika.
"Er.. H-Houki?"
"I have kendo, next time."
Ichika watches as she marches out of the classroom, still blushing red yet her expression is… unreadable, truly the inner working of a girl's heart is the world's greatest mystery.
"So uh… what are we going to do in the cafe anyway?"
"Research," Nora replied while cracking his knuckle before wiggling his fingers. "We want to win right? To keep our dignity as men and not get turned into maids, knowing is half the battle after all."
"That and Nora wanted to try the cakes of the cafe."
"Naturally," Nora admitted without a single ounce of shame.
-0-
"And regarding the 'acquisition' of the Redguns' latest IS unit."
In a dark room, far away from the IS Academy, a group of people huddled together around a table, there were three women and a single man, the three women were seated while the man stood in the center.
He would easily be considered just another middle-aged man, with nothing too outwardly outlandish about his appearance beyond how sharply he dresses in a two-piece suit and a long dark cane supporting his right side.
"Your hound can handle it right?" the woman in the middle asked. Her voice, though quiet, was clear as a bell, and her hand tapped away at the tablet revealing the schematic, data, and overall status of their latest target.
A custom 012 MELANDER C3 painted indigo blue with bright red stripe accents, Balam's latest toy for their in-house elite IS pilots.
"Naturally."
Worst case scenario they would need to fight their way out of the military base, and maybe even against one of the Redguns. Regardless a direct confrontation with Hell on Four Legs is best avoided at all cost.
"At least this dog is better trained than the other one."
As if waiting for royal assent, the two cast their gazes to the table, it was clear that the custom MELANDER C3 was a bait to lure out their operation, so why not take the bait and drag the whole boat down?
"Hm..." The middle woman slowly stood up and turned to the window. She looked up at the pale moon hanging in the sky. "It's decided. Walter, go take 621 and 623 for a walk, I'm sure they'll appreciate the fresh air."
-0-
The chapter is much shorter, not a lot to pick from the previous versions. This chapter is named after Armored Core: For Answer OST of the same name.