Infinite Stratos - Volume 6, page 11
"Aa!"
After replying, I turned my thruster output to the max.
"I'm coming now, Cecilia!"
♦
Kuh! Just as expected, she's strong...!!
While keeping her pace with her enemy, Cecilia directed the high-output BT long rifle [Blue Pierce] towards Silent Zephyrs.
But, as if carefully aiming for that attack timing, the distance between them opened again due to the obstruction from the barrage and shield bit.
"......"
M disinterestedly repeated her attacks toward Cecilia over and over again while keeping her silence.
Accuracy, overwhelming barrage speed, and to top it all, Flexible (Deviation Shoot), were making Cecilia suffer.
I will get hit sooner or later if it stays this way. Now that things have come to this....!
Cecilia summoned the closed range blade [Interceptor] into her tightly clenching hand, and charged at Silent Zephyrs at once.
"I got you!"
"Fun...."
M, as if to say she'll play the game, summoned a knife to her left hand and started a close range battle with Cecilia.
*Kin!* When the two blades hit each other, a sharp sound and sparks flew.
"Ku..!"
A close ranged battle in a supersonic condition harshly consumed a person's mental power.
But, Cecilia, as if to say that she won't lose even in obstinacy, refused to back down.
*Kin*, *Gin!* *Ga....Gin!*[6D 4]
While the one handed close quarter battle continued, M dared to decrease her speed.
And then, the chasing Cecilia came almost crashing into the high-speed road's multi-level crossing point which suddenly entered her field vision.
"You!!"
Cecilia who got out from the dangerous situation using Alley Roll (High speed rotating maneuver) was enraged at M who laughed as if to make fun of her.
She intends to play around with me!?
Cecilia swung downward her blade once again. But, with a flash, that blade was repelled and flew away.
"!?"
"...You're already dead."
It was a cold voice that made you tremble. And then, a merciless barrage poured down on Cecilia's whole body.
"Aa!"
The shield energy was gone at once, and the rifle that was in her left hand was destroyed.
Just when she thought she would get wounded from crashing to the ground, Cecilia barely managed to do an emergency pull-out just before she reached the ground.
"It's over."
From the rifle tip that was installed with a bayonet, a blue light was released.
"Not...yet. I still have my trump card!"
Shouting, Cecilia hit the trigger inside her heart.
High-speed maneuver package [Strike Gunner]. Out of all the techniques to redirect all of the propulsion power of the bit, it was technique that was said to be a forbidden maneuver, a technique that must never be used -
"Haaaaaaaa!? Blue Tears Full Burst!"
Simultaneous shots from all of the closed cannon mouth. A simultaneous discharge of four cannons that blew away the parts.
This was something that could be said to be the worst situation, dismantling a unit in mid-air. But, for Cecilia who couldn't use Flexible (Deviation Shoot), this was the highest level of attack that could be said to have the timing of a finishing blow.
"This is your trump card? Don't make me laugh!"
M raised her voice. And then, together with a laughing voice, she evaded all of Cecilia's shots with high speed rolls.
"Wha!?"
"Die."
*Zaku!* The bayonet pierced Cecilia's two arms.
"Aaaaah!"
A scream escaped due to the extreme pain.
Hearing that voice, M's lips evilly contorted.
"-Please, Blue Tears - "
Cecilia directed both her pierced right and left hands, that were no longer able to grasp anything, toward M.
Inside her heart, a blue drop of water fell.
That drop of water that fell on the water's surface made a wide ripple.
Aah, is that so. Blue Tears is, in a word -
".....?"
M was unable to figure out Cecilia's plan.
And, a smile slowly surfaced on Cecilia's face.
"Bang."
She made a pistol shape with her hand. There was nothing fired from that fingertip.
But, the next instant, M was pierced by 4 beams from behind her.
"!?"
A technique that could only be used with a highly skilled manipulation of BT energy, Flexible (Deviation Shoot).
Cecilia finally managed to make that technique her own in the last moment, but her unit that lost its propulsion power in supersonic condition was unable to maintain its appearance and started to break down.
So this is as far as I can go isn't it..... But, I managed to return a blow.
Cecilia accepted her defeat with a sportsman's-like attitude. But, at the moment she gave up, a voice reached her.
"Sorry to make you wait!"
Byakushiki, rushing in at full blast, cut Silent Zephyrs' rifle, and used its hand to take back Cecilia.
♦
"Cecilia! Get a hold of yourself!"
"Ara[6D 5], Ichika-san.... Fufu, you're late."
"Sorry about that!"
"Can't be helped. I'll forgive you with a....date...."
"!? Hey, Cecilia! Cecilia!"
Cecilia's vital signs were sent from the hyper sensor toward the shouting me. It seems she just lost consciousness.
Pushing yourself too hard, geez...
I found a building's roof where it seemed I could get down, and landed there.
It seems the IS stopped the bleeding in the wounds on her arms..... But, it could be bad if it's not tended to quickly.
At IS academy, there's a facility that's on the same level as a university's hospital. For the time being, let's bring her back to the academy.
"....!"
I, who was about to stand up and fly away, got startled and stopped my movement.
Silent Zephyrs was coldly looking down at us with its back facing the sun. There's an icy presence accompanying that gaze, like the pressure you feel when there's a knife pointed in point blank range at your neck.
"You bastard....."
I scowled at the enemy that hurt Cecilia. The enemy's face can't be seen because of the visor, but the enmity I gave out should have reached the enemy.
But, what should I do? Can I fight against that IS while protecting Cecilia?
But, whether it's impossible or not, if it's to protect a friend then I have to do it. I strengthened my resolve, and tightly grasped Yukihira Ni-gata.
" - Squall huh, what is it? ........ I got it, I'll go back."
"Wha...?"
"...Fun..."
Silent Zephyrs glanced at me once, and then turned her back and flew away.
"That person, what's the matter with her...?"
Even after Silent Zephyrs left, bound by that unpleasant pressure, I was unable to move for a while.
♦
"One, two"
"Ichika, happy birthday!"
With Charl's voice as the signal, the sound of party crackers reverberated.
"Ye-Yes. Thank you."
The time is 5 o'clock in the afternoon, the place: Orimura family residence..... it's fine up to this point.
"What's with this number of people....."
Let's sort out the party members.
The usual faces. Houki, Cecilia, Rin, Charl and Laura.
And then Ran. There are also my male friends Gotanda Dan and Mitarai Kazuma.
Furthermore, there's the student council members Tatenashi-san, Nohohon-san, and Utsuho-san.
On top of that, for unknown reasons, even the ace of newspaper club, Mayuzumi Kaoruko-san, was here. The living room, which wasn't that big in the first place, almost burst.
Haa[6D 6]. I'm concerned about how they can make that much of a noise after that kind of incident.
No, it's the opposite isn't it. Maybe it's because it's after that kind of incident that they want to make some noise.
In the end, Phantom Task's objective is unclear too this time even after the temporary settlement was reached.
Seeing the academy's authorized people's, including both Chifuyu-nee and Yamada-sensei's, hurried movements, it seems this is a really big problem isn't it.
It's because we used IS in the town district after all....."
I was also investigated. In the end, I wasn't released until past 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
"U-U-Umm, Ichika-san! I, I baked a cake for you!"
"Oo, Ran. How was today? Did you have fun? Well, even if I said that, it got messy midway though."
"Y-Yes! Umm, it was great! Ah, please have some of the cake!"
"Thank you."
I took the plate that Ran held out, and ate the cake on top of the plate.
It was a cream and chocolate cake from cocoa based sponge cake. The smooth texture and big volume of cream made a good amount of sweetness unfold inside your mouth when you took a bite out of it.
"This tastes really good. Did you make this by yourself?"
"Y-Yes!"
"You are really good at cooking aren't you. Hm, you're going to be a good wife."
"W-Wife...!?"
"Ichika, here, Ramen."
"Owa!? Rin, that's so sudden."
"It's better while it's still hot. After all, the noodle is handmade by me. Fufun."
Rin boasted while sticking out her chest.
Indeed, the noodle floating on the golden soup looks delicious. Could it be that this chashu is hand made too? How elaborate.
"Mu, Rin-san..."
"Hmm? Ah, I was wondering who it was, so it's Ran isn't it? Did your body grow a little bit taller?"
"I, I don't want to be told about that by you!"
Rin and Ran, the situation became stormy in an instant.
I wonder why these two can't get along with each other? It's been like this since our junior high school days.
Once, I wanted to ask about the reason, but somehow I got the feeling it will bring unnecessary trouble instead.
"T-Then, Itadakimasu."
*Slurp* *slurp* I vigorously ate the ramen.
The soup that's nicely coordinated with the noodles tasted very seafood-based-dashi-shiru[6D 7] like. It's very refreshing and the aftertaste is great.
The noodles are also chewy enough, it bounced when you cut it inside the mouth.
While chewing on it, the soup and noodles' refined taste spreads out inside your mouth, it somehow feels relieving.
"Hm. This tastes really great. Rin, did your cooking skill improve again?"
"Well, more or less! Although I'm a representative candidate student, I also trained to be a b-bride."
"Is that so. I see."
"...What's with your lack of response...."
"Wha?"
"It's nothing!"
I wonder why, Rin is mad at me.
For the time being, I put the porcelain bowl down and headed to the kitchen.
"Cecilia."
"Y-Yes?"
The person standing there with the bandaged right hand was Cecilia.
Her wound wasn't a light one, but it seems it will return to normal in a week due to receiving activated regenerative treatment.
She was advised to stay in the hospital for today, but she strongly opposed the idea thus she's attending the birthday party like this.
"Your wound, is there no problem? You should rest if it's painful."
"No! This much is not enough to be considered an injury! R-Rather than that, Ichika-san!"
"Hmm?"
"Happy birthday. And then, please take this."
"What's this box?"
"I-It's a present. Please open it."
"Alright."
I smoothly removed the packaging paper from it, and then opened the lid.
"Ooh? It's a tea set."
"*Gohon*! This is English imperial family's purveyor, [Einsley]'s high class tea set. Also, I also put inside leaves for first-grade tea that I love to drink inside."
"Oo...it looks amazing. Thank you. I'll treasure it."
"N-Not at all. This much is nothing. R-Rather than that, how about next time we - "
"Ichika-kun, did you eat well?"
"T-Tatenashi-san!? P-Please stop hugging me from behind!"
"*Fufun*, it's fine isn't it. It's not like you'll lose anything."
"I will! Such as my pure heart for instance!"
"Ara, then it's just perfect isn't it. Please console this heart-broken onee-san."
"Heart-broken....?"
Even while all this happened, Tatenashi-san's voluptuous chest bulge was pressing on my back.
"Wait a minute! Sarashiki-kaichou![6D 8]"
Cecilia's raising her voice.
She tried to remove Tatenashi-san from me, but Tatenashi-san's body was closely glued to me and she wouldn't move away.
"G-Get away from him please!"
"An, call me Tatenashi"
"That kind of thing doesn't matter! Please get away from Ichika-san right aw...ouch!"
"S-Stupid. Cecilia, your right hand is injured so take it easy. Are you okay?"
"I, I'm okay....n-no! I'm not okay. Ichika-san!"
"Which one is it...."
"*Gohon*! Because my right hand is injured, please feed me the cake."
"Y-yes, no problem...."
First of all, I took a piece of the cut cake, and then fed Cecilia.
"Here, aaahhnnn...."
"A, a...."
"Aaah!? Cecilia, what are you doing!? Even though this is Ichika's birthday!"
Damn it! Charl found us.
Cecilia, who ate the cake with a big bite, closed her eyes and let out a sigh in bliss.
"Fuuu... It's a privilege."
"I-Ichika! That's not fair! Rather, Tatenashi-san what are you doing too! Ah, really!"
The restless Charl spoke this and that. ...Somehow, she really understands other people's problems doesn't she.
"Arara. Well then Cecilia-chan, shall we go that way?"
"Yeah. I'm satisfied now so I don't mind. Ha....♪"
The two-girls group who seemed satisfied for some reason headed to the living room.
I, who was left in the kitchen alone with Charl, pulled out the watch that Charl bought for me when I remembered something.
"Thank you for this. I'm going to use this from now on."
"Y-Yeah! Please take care of it!"
That golden white wristwatch, aside from the usual wristwatch functionality, you can also see current temperature, humidity, weather, and even the latest news too. For the battery used in the wristwatch, of course there's the latest air battery, solar battery, and there's even a heat power generator too. This watch sure is amazing.
"Next time tell me Charl's birthday too. I definitely gonna return this favor during that time."
"Y-Yeah. I'm looking forward to it."
"Even so, today sure is troublesome isn't it. Who was it, that person."
"...why do you change the topic to something like this only when talking with me...."
"Huh?"
"N-Nothing!"
Charl waved her hands. After that she cleared her throat once, and then she gave her opinion.
"I heard it was an international terrorist, but if they possess IS then the situation has become grave hasn't it. It's because even if it's only one, depending on the circumstances, it might mean that they possess a military power equal to a country."
Of course, every unit has its limit due to the quantum transformation capacity, so it's still safe as long as they haven't removed that lock, she added.
"Is that so...."
"Even the academy side is on alert right now, so it should be safe for now I guess?"
"It'll be nice if that's the case...."
I remembered about that assaulter again.
Even if it's covered behind visors, those eyes looks like it held deep hatred toward me.
"........"
"Here now, don't look that grim."
"Huh? D-Did I make that kind of grim face?"
"Yeah. If you worry about things too much, happiness will run away from you you know. Here, smile, smile."
"A-Alright."
Charl touched her mouth with her own hand, push the tip of her lips as if to make a smile.
That extraordinary smile made my heart bounce a little.
"Ah, ummm, Laura said that she wants you to come to the garden later."
"Hmm? Then, I guess I'll go now."
"Yeah. See you later, Ichika."
Bidding farewell to Charl, I passed through the living room and went outside.
"Y-You're late!"
"Uh, sorry."
"A, aah, no, you're not.... it's actually just me who's selfishly waiting for you. I retract my previous remark."
"Huh? Is that so."
To retract her previous remark, it's rare for Laura to do that. Her awkwardness in adapting and being honest are her selling points though.
"I-I-Ichika!"
"Wha? -Uwaah!?"
Suddenly a knife targeted my neck. I jumped back at once, but when I looked at it closely, the knife actually stopped just right in front of me.
I-I thought I was going to be killed....
"I-I'll give you this knife!"
"...What?"
"It's a birthday present! This is the one that I usually use in real battle! Its cutting ability is excellent, and it also has a high endurance. Take it!"
"A-Alright!"
Taking the knife from Laura's hand, she also handed me the sheath associated with that knife.
That knife, with a blade of length exceeding 20 centimeters, is clearly one that's used for military use. The black metal exterior released a silent overbearing presence.
Needless to say, it's a [tool for killing].
"Ah."
"W-what is it!?"
"The grip, it looks cool doesn't it"
"I-Is that so. The holster is quite good too you know. Look!"
"Thank you."
When the belt on the sheath is put on, it becomes a holster.
The sheath was to be positioned horizontally under the armpit, in order to make it easy for the knife to be drawn with just the slightest movement.
"....As a fellow warrior, you understand the meaning behind handing my weapon to you, don't you...."
