Infinite Stratos, Volume 5, page 11
“She got away. It looks like she recovered her IS’ core just before the explosion, too. So only the weapons and armor detonated. That was really risky. If she failed, she would have blown herself up.” Tatenashi was cool, matter-of-fact, rather than her usual playfulness.
“Really. Anyway, um...”
“Yes?”
“It’d be nice if you let me go.”
The force of the explosion had pressed Tatenashi into me. Meaning... Her breasts were squeezed directly into my face, and, ummm—
“Aww. Ichika, you’re such a pervert.”
“Wait, no, it isn’t like that! It’s just, it was an emergency, so...”
“It’s not very manly to make excuses like that, is it? Now tell me, what did you think of my breasts?”
“.........”
“Nothing to say? That’s so mean.”
“Well, uh... They were soft... And...”
“Ichika.”
“Yes?”
“You’re such a pervert.”
I gave up on arguing with her about it and hung my head. Today had just been too much. You know the feeling where you just want to go home and take a bath? That’s how I felt.
“And what do we have here?” Tatenashi dangled a certain something from her fingertip as she teased me.
“Eh? The crown. What about it?”
“Ah, yes, the crown. The wonderful prize which grants its holder the right to live in Ichika’s room.”
“What?! Is that why all the girls wanted it so badly?”
“Yeah.”
“How did you even come up with that? It’s not even like it’s any fun to live with me.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Anyway, looks like I’m the one that ended up with it.”
I had a bad feeling about what was gonna happen— no, what already had happened.
“So, looks like we’re together for a little longer while, I-chi-ka!”
Mentally and physically exhausted, I slumped backwards.
◇
Shit! Shit, shit, shit! Autumn sprinted across the grounds of IS Academy while cursing bitterly to herself. This was supposed to be an easy job! That little whore set me up!
Today’s mission had gone off the rails before it had even started. The initial idea had been to catch Ichika in his dorm room, but his new roommate had meant a sudden change of plans.
I knew she was bad news from the day she showed up! Autumn’s mind raced as she thought of her aloof, arrogant co-conspirator. The one whose haughtiness was visible in every gaze. The one who had designed the ‘Remover,’ and who had planned this mission.
What the hell is the point of that thing, anyway? If he can summon his IS from outside its range, it’s useless! It was definitely useless now. Once an IS was hit with it once, it developed a resistance. Wait! That must be it! The process of the IS being removed developed that resistance. Then, because of the newfound resistance, it could be summoned from long range.
I was set up to fail. Autumn latched onto the conclusion that the girl who created the Remover must have understood that would happen. I’ll kill her! Kill, kill, kill! I can’t believe she humiliated me like that! Grinding her teeth in anger, she suddenly realized that she had escaped to a park outside IS Academy.
Damn, I’m thirsty... I need to find some water... Looking from left to right, her eyes eventually latched onto a fountain. Thinking she could spare a few moments, she swiftly walked toward it. I’ll kill that kid! I don’t care what Squall has to say about it!
Turning the spigot, she let water spray forth. Lapping up the flow like a dog, she turned her thoughts to how exactly she’d kill the new girl. Nice and slow... Hee-hee... Suddenly, she realized that the water flowing down her throat had stopped.
What? Is it broken? She looked back at the fountain and gasped incredulously. The water’s flow was being blocked in midair.
“What?!”
The spatter of the water hitting what almost seemed like a transparent plank floating in the air was soaking Autumn’s clothes, but she was more worried about something else. This must be... AIC! She tried to leap backward away from the fountain, but the AIC was already holding her feet down. Instead, she crumpled to the ground from the inertia.
“Shit! Is this that German IS?!”
“That’s right, Phantom Task.” Laura’s quiet voice hung in the air. It was as chill and regal as a mountain glacier. “Don’t move. Our sniper already has a bead drawn right between your eyes.”
“Ugh!”
“Now spit it out. Everything about your organization.”
Due to her military background, Laura had already known a small amount about Phantom Task. And now, there was this raid. And their use of IS. Phantom Task was shaping up to be a considerable foe.
“Your IS is a second generation American model. Where’d you get it? Tell me.”
“I ain’t telling you shit!”
The process of creating IS cores had never been revealed. Meaning, Autumn’s must have been stolen from somewhere. However, the loss of even a single core was a major incident weakening national defenses, so its source wouldn’t have revealed the theft. In any case, any organization capable of planning and executing a mission to hijack an IS must have had significant resources at its disposal.
“That’s fine. I’m fairly experienced in conducting interrogations. So it looks like you and I are going to be spending a lot of time together.”
Laura began to pace toward Autumn, but suddenly, Cecilia cut in over a private channel, “Get away from her! We’ve got a bogey closing in!”
“What...?” Just as Laura swept the area with her sensors, a laser struck her in the right shoulder. “Ugh!”
Quickly, she flipped up her eyepatch and activated the hypersensor-enhancing Wodan-Auge system. However, it was all she could do to avoid the following two laser shots.
“Laura! Get out of there!” Cecilia had already traced the shots back to their source, and lined up the oncoming IS in her sights. “Is... Is that—”
She recognized the form enlarged by her scope. It was the second BT IS, Silent Zephyrus. It was equipped with experimental shielding bits based off data gathered from its predecessor, Cecilia’s own Blue Tears.
“What are you doing? Hurry up, Cecilia! Shoot!”
“Tch.”
Cecilia squeezed off a few aimed shots with her laser rifle, but the bits repositioned to block the fire, preventing her from landing a clean hit. Scrambling for options, she deployed her own bits, only for the Silent Zephyrus to pick them out of the sky. It can aim that precisely at full speed?! I can’t believe its rate of fire! Cecilia was shocked at being so cleanly outmatched. She didn’t have much time to think, though, as the Silent Zephyrus’s own bits circled around to her six.
“Then—” She fired her missile bits directly downward, planning to adjust their trajectories in midair and catch the incoming enemy in a blind spot. Cecilia was sure of success—until she saw something unbelievable happen. “Wha—”
The beams bent in midair, shooting down each missile bit. Polarization trajectory control?! That’s only possible with a BT weapon acting at full operational efficiency! It can’t— She froze, dumbstruck at what she saw. I’m the active pilot with the highest BT compatibility! So how?!
“What are you doing?! Don’t let that hit you!”
Cecilia’s breath caught. Laura body-checked Cecilia out of the way, taking the brunt of the laser barrage herself. It was only while watching the Schwarzer Regen’s armor melt away that Cecilia snapped back to herself, but by then, the attacker had already made it to Autumn’s side.
“Your ride’s here, Autumn.”
“Goddammit! Why do you have to be so casual about this!”
A hail of fire from a compact laser gatling kept Laura or Cecilia from closing in. At the same time, a glowing pink knife cut through the AIC field, freeing Autumn.
“Is this the best Advanced that German science can produce?”
The enemy pilot wore a visor-type hypersensor which revealed only her mouth. But Laura could see that it was twisted into a cruel smirk.
“Damn you! How do you know about that?!”
“I don’t need to tell you. Anyway.”
Holding Autumn, she soared into the air and away. A few moments later, the bits which were pinning Laura and Cecilia down self-destructed, their mission complete.
“Laura! Get a hold of the academy! I’ll go after her!”
“No! You’ll never catch up now. And in the condition we’re in now, we’d never win.”
“.........”
Cecilia pursed her lips in frustration as she watched the enemy fly away. Soon enough, she was gone like the wind, leaving not a single trace. Laura and Cecilia each sensed a storm approaching.
◇
“...And that’s how it is.”
“Phew...”
Nighttime, in my dorm room. With the school festival over, Tatenashi was giving me the details on what really happened. About how a shadowy organization had recently ramped up operations, and when it was determined to be targeting me, she had moved into my room as a protective measure.
“So... Just who are you really, Tatenashi?”
“A kind girl, the type you’d love to have as a big sister?”
“I’m already full up on those.”
“I guess, but anyway. The Sarashiki family has always specialized in this sort of behind-the-scenes operation. Like, you understand the meaning of ‘working in the shadows’?”
Working in the shadows—so, doing things behind the scenes that can’t or shouldn’t be officially acknowledged?
“So the Sarashikis work in the shadows to counter other groups working in the shadows? That’s... pretty impressive.”
Tatenashi giggled as she snapped her fan open. On it was written ‘Semper paratus.’ Sometimes I just had no answer for her...
“But now that that’s dealt with, I can relax a bit.”
“So you’ll be changing rooms now? That’s—” I cut myself off before I could finish with ‘a relief.’ I didn’t want to think about how she’d react to hearing that. “...I’ll be lonely.”
Giggling, she replied, “Don’t worry. I’ll be here a little while longer. After all, I’m the one who ended up with the crown.”
Ugh. Right, that happened.
“Even after I move out, you can come sleep over whenever you get lonely.”
“No thanks, I think I’ll be fine.”
If I didn’t at least say that, who knew where this conversation would go. I couldn’t leave any openings for someone like her.
“Aww. I thought you’d appreciate the offer.”
“Sure, sure. I’m turning the lights out.”
“Mhm. Let’s get a good night’s sleep.”
As the lights faded, I lay down in bed. I was exhausted, and I quickly began to drift off.
“Goodnight, Ichika. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”
That was the last thing I heard before falling asleep.
◇
“Everyone, you did an excellent job at the school festival recently. I’m now going to announce the results of the voting.”
Meaning, the results of the battle over me. I felt like I could hear the entire student body, all packed into the gym, gulp in nervous unison.
“Number one is... The student council’s production of Cinderella!”
“EHHHHH?” Everyone’s mouths hung open in surprise. A few seconds later, the crowd erupted in boos.
“That’s cheating! No fair! Election fraud!”
“How’d it end up the student council? That doesn’t even make any sense!”
“We worked so hard!”
After motioning for silence, Tatenashi continued, “The requirement to participate as an audience member was, after all, to vote for the student council. We did not require participation. You chose this for yourselves.”
So that’s what she was getting out of it... I wasn’t shocked, so much as just in awe. That had been an extremely clever plan. But her explanation wasn’t enough to quiet the booing.
“Please, please, calm down. As a member of the student council, Orimura Ichika will be assigned to liaison with each club as appropriate. Since he’s a boy, he’ll be unable to compete in varsity sports, but he will still be made available as a manager or assistant. Please fill out an application and submit it to the student council.”
Wait, what?
“Well, I guess...”
“I suppose that’s fair enough.”
“Lucky us, our club had no chance of winning anyway.”
I could hear a few mutters of acceptance from around me before the crowd erupted in campaigning for their club.
“All right, let’s get him started at the soccer club!”
“What are you talking about? Lacrosse should be first!”
“There’s the cooking club too.”
“Here! Right over here! The tea ceremony club is right here!”
“The kendo club will be fine with taking him second.”
“Judo! Ooh, pick judo! We need to work on our ground game!”
C’mon, hold it! Why don’t I get any input on this?!
“Then, since there seem to be no objections, Orimura Ichika will be joining the student council under my direction.” As Tatenashi concluded her proclamation, the crowd erupted in claps and cheers.
Eh? What? What the heck was this? I was on the student council? But I was being lent out to each club?
“And what do you mean, ‘under your direction’?!”
I had a bad feeling about this. A very bad feeling.
“Goodnight, Ichika. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.” I suddenly remembered her words last night. Is this what she meant?! I didn’t know how serious she was about this whole thing. All I knew is that fighting it would help nothing.
◇
“Congratulations on your appointment as student council vice president, Orimura Ichika!”
“Congraaaaats...”
“Congratulations. I’m looking forward to working with you.”
Tatenashi, Miss Casual, and Utsuho, in that order. After each congratulated me in her own way, they all set off party poppers.
We were in the student council room. A lavishly imposing desk was ensconced directly before the window. Like high rollers and bosses always had in the movies.
“Why, though?”
“Doesn’t it tie up all the loose ends neatly? I mean, you had to join one club or another. The principal even suggested using my authority to force you into one.”
“Well, y’know, if you joined a club... Maybe a few people would have given up...”
“But the vast majority would still have demanded your presence in theirs, I believe. Therefore, the student council has adopted this measure.”
It seemed like they were quite used to finishing each other’s sentences. Realizing that it was no use arguing any further, I slumped in my seat and said, “So you’re not even gonna get my opinion on it...”
“Oh, could that be it? Are three gorgeous girls not enough for you?”
“She’s kinda right... Orimu, you’re surrounded by cuties here.”
“I’m not entirely sure what they mean to imply by that, but I certainly think your duties here will serve as valuable experience in the future.”
At least for now, it seemed like Utsuho was the only one who was taking this seriously. Resignedly, I started to ask her what those duties might be, “Um... So, I should start coming here after class every day?”
“For now, correct. Once we assign you to a club, you’ll operate under their schedule.”
“Got it.”
“Oh, and may I ask you one thing?”
“Huh? What is it?”
For once, Utsuho seemed like she was dancing around the point. I watched her in curiosity as she opened her mouth to speak once, then twice, before finally squeezing it out.
“The friend you brought to the school festival. What was his name?”
“Huh? Oh, you mean Dan? That’s Gotanda Dan. He goes to one of the local public high schools.”
“I-I see. Is he the same age as you?”
“Yeah, he is.”
“Two years younger...”
“Eh?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Thank you.”
Utsuho gave a polite bow. Her cheeks looked a little red, but I must have been imagining it.
“All right! To commemorate a full meeting and celebrate Ichika’s appointment as Vice President, I baked a cake. Shall we have some now?”
“Oooh. Sounds greaaaat.”
“I’ll start some tea, then.”
“If you don’t mind. Honne, could you fetch the plates?”
“Suuuure.”
It seemed like whenever the three worked together, they each took the task matching their personality. The shortcake they laid out was, undeniably, delicious-looking.
“Then. Cheers!”
“Cheeeeers.”
“Cheers.”
“Aha... Hahaha... Cheers. Sigh...”
Thus began my life on the student council.
◇
“Pardon me.”
Tatenashi opened a weighty door and stepped into the principal’s office. Night had already fallen, and the windows looked out upon the darkness.
“Ah, Sarashiki. Excellent timing.” She was greeted by an older man with a kindly face. Officially, his wife was the Principal of IS Academy, but behind the scenes, this man was in charge. “Now, if I could have your report?”
The man rested his clasped hands on top of his ornate desk as he spoke. His hair was completely white, and his face was creased with wrinkles. His gentle demeanor had earned him the nickname of ‘Conscience of the Academy.’ This man who spent his days as a janitor—Kutsuwagi Juuzou—was in true control of everything which happened at IS Academy.
“First, about Orimura Ichika. His IS training is progressing satisfactorily.” Tatenashi dispensed with her usual playfulness. “To be honest, I’m impressed. It only takes him a few tries to pick up anything I teach him. He’s far quicker on the uptake than any girl I’ve worked with.”
“I see. It must be because he’s Ms. Orimura’s brother.”
Tatenashi sensed a hidden meaning behind that, but continued her report rather than probing at it, “Next, we’ve confirmed that Phantom Task is in possession of at least two IS. Of them, one has had its core extracted and is unlikely to be ready for action in the immediate future.”
