Infinite Stratos - Volume 4, page 12
Charlotte and Cecilia who were putting the wasabi on the noodles also answered. In fact, everyone basically thought of 'Coming over♪' and then acted, and every girl there understood fully each other on that point.
"To say something random, were you happy by the surprise of me coming over?"
After drinking the noodle soup, Laura said it like this.
(What an admirable self-confidence....)
The other four girls thought of the same thing at that time.
"Then what should we do in the afternoon? Should everyone stay at home? Though I think going outside would be better."
Keke, everyone was thinking of something different while nodding.
(I specially came to Ichika's home for the day he returns.)
(What's good in going outside, stupid!)
(Why isn't there a single bit of smooth progress until now.)
(I still haven't asked what Ichika's interests are.)
(Instructor Orimura will come at night, I'm interested.)
As everyone was calculating in their minds, Houki, Rin, Cecilia, Charlotte and Laura finished eating.
"I'll tidy and then pour you some tea, so please wait a moment."
"Ah, then I'll also go."
"Hn? Is that okay? Then please, even though you are a guest. Please help me put the table in order."
"Uhn♪! Understood."
As always, Charlotte found once again an opportunity to participate, stood up and started tidying.
After that, feeling a crisis coming, Rin and Cecilia also stood up.
"I-I'll help too."
"Usually, I wouldn't do this, but I'll make an exception and help you."
"There's no need, no matter what, four people is too much, Rin and Cecilia, please rest."
"Mu......"
"B-But."
The two of them swallowed their words even if they wanted to say anything, and to not create an opposite effect, didn't insist and could only return to sitting on the sofa.
The four people sitting on the sofa were Rin, Cecilia, Charlotte and Laura, while Ichika and Houki were sitting on the floor's cushions.
"Can I wash these?"
"Sure, and don't forget the dish detergent, but I feel kind of bad letting you clean up."
"Its nothing, it's nothing, I am good in doing this, or to say......I like it."
Though Charlotte still couldn't say 'I like you' or something like that, so she could only strike sideways.
(Ehehe, it feels as if we were newlyweds......)
The other four were looking at the happy Charlotte.
(Muu......as I thought, Charlotte is a strong rival.)
(Ah-Uu-, I'm completely left behind.)
(I should use Charlotte's method as a reference.)
(Fu, that kid, one can't be too careless around her.)
After Charlotte finished helping, it was time to make tea, and fifteen minutes later, everyone gathered next to the table.
"As I thought, a cup of tea after lunch is needed. Ha—, I feel great."
Who would mind drinking hot tea in the middle of summer, though that's Ichika's mentality. Cold tea before the meal, and hot tea after.
"Then what should we do now, how about playing some sort of game?"
"Hm, I thought of that much, so I specially took this with me, here."
While saying this, Rin took out a paper bag, and there were social games like Poker, Hanafuda, Monopoly and some different other games.[4D 3]
"Oh—so Rin likes things like this."
"Of course, since I can win."
Fufun—said Rin, though that was because she's pretty bad at video games.
"So let's play these, do you guys want to play that?"
While Ichika was saying this, the others were coming to see the things in the bag.
"Aside from Japanese games, there are others."
"Ah, what I want to play, is that materials-buying game."
"Oh, so that is Japan's Hanafuda, it doesn't look too bad. Next time I go back to my country, I'll buy some and take them back."
"I want to play Shogi[4D 4], but it seems that it can only be played with two players."
Facing those different games, the girls started to discuss enthusiastically. Seeing that kind of scene, and remembering being just as enthusiastic in the past with Rin, Ichika couldn't help but think of those days in Junior High.
"So everyone, let's decide what to play."
After saying that, Ichika took out a game called Barbarossa.[4D 5]
"Hau, I want to play a German game."
Raising her Germany flag to her chest and carefully examining it, Laura let out a rare happy expression.
"So what should we play, in the end?"
"How about playing the quiz game made of clay?"
"Hn? How do we play that? Who's the one who moulds better?"
"It's not like that. It's actually the opposite, since if you mould too well, it would be too easy to recognize, so it should be a bit indistinct to make it as a quiz."
"Hnn? Isn't it disadvantageous if it's too ugly?
"This depends on the questions. Guess an answer, and confirm it by questioning. The questioning concerning the modeling is the crucial point in the game."
After the experienced Rin explained the rules with Ichika, the game began.
*Konekonekonekone......*
"Finished."
"Then, start."
Charlotte rolled the dice, and the game begun.
"That, one, two, three."
"Ah, it's the gem."
"Yes, so it's my turn to ask. Good, then I'll question Laura about her clay modeling."
"I understand."
"Oh yeah, and the answer can only be 'yes', 'no' or 'I don't know', and the questioning continues until there's a 'no' answered."
Hearing Rin's explanation, Houki nodded slightly, and started to examine Laura's model.
That model is a pyramid-shaped imposing object that looked still. Though not only no one knew, except Laura, everyone had on their face a 'what the heck is that' expression.
"Is it something on earth?"
"Um."
"OK...... Is it bigger than a human?"
"Yes."
It means that, it isn't some tool or anything of that sort, but even if it's bigger than a man, no one can tell what this is.
"Is it in a city?"
"How can I say it, you can say that it could be, but it's also OK to say that it is not."
This answer gave everyone a headache, and since everyone thought that it could have been the Tokyo Tower, this answer made everyone get mad.
"Is it man-made?"
"NO!"
"OK, my questioning ended, so it's Houki's turn to answer, isn't it?"
"U-Um, anyway, even if I'm wrong points won't be deducted, so I'll answer."
In a formal game you need to write it on a paper and show it to the author, though this time was only a trial, so Rin changed the rules a bit, so everyone could share the information.
"Then, what is the answer?"
"AN OILFIELD!"
*Subishi!*, Houki, who held out the object in question, answered.
"Wrong."
Houki answered with her head lowered, and including Ichika, every other player showed a 'why would it be an oilfield' expression of dismay.
The game still continued and it had already passed the halfway point.
"If there's still no correct answer, the one who made that thing won't have any points either."
By the way, what Charlotte did had been immediately guessed, so she didn't get any points. And on the other hand, the advancing team's model had the Barbarossa characteristic, it was invincible in terms of 'it can be whatever you want'.
In the middle of the explanation, the author and the one answering can get points.
So incidentally, Houki's model is a 'well', and Charlotte answered at the best possible moment.
Then, the last battle opposes two strong people, Laura to Cecilia.
While Laura's is that pyramid, Cecilia's looked like an intriguing cell.
"This, is it food?"
"It isn't."
"Is that thing really small?"
"No, it's very, very big."
Having their models figured out, Houki and Charlotte violently questioned Laura and Cecilia on their models with deadly intentions, but Laura's model was impossible to solve.
So finally, the game could only end.
"Then, Laura, what is that thing?"
The one questioning was Ichika, who has been holding back for long.
"Huh? Even you do not know? You are really a failure as my bride."
"What, anyways...what is the answer?"
"A mountain."
............
"What?"
"A mountain."
"No, no, wait, WAIT! Is there a mountain that acute?"
"Jeez......how rude. Mount Everest is like that."
"But it only limits to the Mount Everest!"
"Except Mount Everest, there are only mountains like this."
Full of confidence of her modeling, Laura wouldn't let go.
"Fine, fine, since no one answered right to Laura's model, so I'll take points out! Next, what is Cecilia's?"
"Ara. No one got the answer?"
If anyone had got it, he/she would have answered! Though they thought of saying this, they didn't say it loud.
Cecilia started making her show-off posture, lifted her right hand, made a circle in the air and said.
"It's my motherland, the UK!"
"""............"""
Everyone fell into silence. By the way, what everyone guessed before were 'rotten potato', 'unicellular substance', 'decomposed pizza', 'seaweed', 'piece of cloth worn out', 'injured dog' and 'wet cat'.
"Really, I don't need everyone to be touched like this, I recommend you to look at the world map once per day."
'Who would know what UK's form would look like!', was what everyone wanted to answer, but fell into silence. Seeing Cecilia having even more confidence in her modeling than Laura, so it made everyone have a 'want to throw a tsukkomi at her silliness'. [4D 6]
"A-Anyways, everyone should approximately know what the rules are! Then Ichika and I will enter too, so let's play together!"
The six of them gathered in front of the table, and started modeling once again.
Although the clay model made before needed to be destroyed, Charlotte's horse was so great that destroying it would give a feeling of pity. Ichika took it in his own hands looked at it and said.
"By the way, Charlotte's hands are really skillful......don't you think that at this level, it could be used as an ornament?"
"It-It's nothing. I only added four legs to it."
"No, no. Even though it has been guessed wrongly by some others, this doesn't look like a donkey, neither does it look like a camel! As expected from Charlotte."
"Ah, thank you......"
The other four girls watched the embarrassed Charlotte from the shadows, and thought unconvincingly 'why is Charlotte the only one to be praised'.
Especially Houki, Cecilia and Laura, who were all fully confident about their models, didn't get praised by Ichika, and thus, were so angry that their cheeks were puffing up.
"Rin, since you can't tell if it's a dumpling, a meat bun or a shaomai, it's not allowed."
"Ho-How rude, it's a peach!"
"Huh, it's a peach......doesn't the shape go too much against common sense?"
"How noisy! Don't you know only how to make Dongpo pork."[4D 7]
"Ah......what are you talking about, did you know that I can do three layers properly? Even Dan could see it."
"That is because you always eat Dongpo pork every noon!"
Facing those two having an animated discussion about their days in Junior High, the other people looked at them with envy; but the past is the past, and it cannot be changed, so after reflecting on that point, it was decided that the thoughts should be on the future.
As time passed by, the second round started.
"I know, that's Kamaboko!"[4D 8]
"It is not! Please try harder."
"What Laura made......is it a human......?"
"It's not, why can't you guess right? The model is fantastic."
"I know it this time, Cecilia, what you're modeling is a tomato, isn't it?"
"Houki-san, does it look like a tomato?"
The atmosphere was really lively, so much that time passed quickly.
Though after 4 PM, an unexpected person appeared.
"What, I thought that it was too lively, so it was you guys, huh."
In front of their eyes was Chifuyu-nee.
She was wearing casual clothes, a white shirt and a pair of jeans, and it was showing her personality. The sleeveless black shirt underneath her clothes was covering her voluminous chest.
"Welcome back, Chifuyu-nee."
"Aaah, I'm home."
Ichika immediately stood up, and walked towards Chifuyu-nee, and took the bag on her right shoulder, giving the impression that he's a butler.
"Did you eat at lunch? If you didn't I'll cook some rice, what dishes do you want to eat?"
"Stupid, what time do you think it is? I've already eaten it."
"Is that so......ah, what kind of tea do you want to drink? Hot or iced, which one?"
"You're kind of right......I just came from outside, so I want to drink iced——"
At that point of her sentence, Chifuyu suddenly felt an oppressive aura from the students. It was envy towards Chifuyu on how she gets treated by Ichika.
"......No, there's no need, I'll go outdoors in a moment, I have some work."
"Huh? So it's like that......but the coffee jelly that was frozen in the morning should be eatable, I guess."
"Next time then. So, I'll go change my clothes."
"Ah! The shirt and other clothes are already out. I have taken the autumn clothes in Chifuyu-nee's bag, so don't forget them!"
"I know it."
Oh jeez, this guy seems like a good mother, was what Chifuyu thought, but she didn't say it.
Though the girls felt 'What, they look like a husband and his wife', but no one said it out loud, and even if they commented on it, they would only deepen their trouble.
*Badam!* Following the door sound, Chifuyu left the living room; thinking that they could finally breathe normally, the girls let out a deep breath.
"Just as always, you really like to stick to Chifuyu-san."
"Huh? Is it? Well, it's normal, since we're siblings."
"Is it? Probably only you think like that."
After seeing Chifuyu's appearance——or perhaps rather Ichika's approach towards Chifuyu, Rin's speech was full of sarcasm.
At the same time, Ichika's other childhood friend, Houki, who since long ago thought that they were really close to each other, always felt some things that couldn't be said, swirling around in her mind.
(......Has Ichika's sister complex gone worse......)
Thinking about the matter a month before, Cecilia's and Charlotte's mood got worse.
(Does Orimura-sensei only look at him as a younger brother......?)
(That, that's probably not it, huh? Something like a world by themselves, two people having a crush on each other......there should be none of that, should it?)
Laura, who thought of what happened before and that she could get over it once again, felt an abnormally jealous feeling different from before.
(Muu......that disgraceful Ichika is clearly my wife......but the Instructor——no, even if it's the Instructor, my wife can't be good to anyone, besides me. It's really troublesome, but......Muuu......)
Everyone's thoughts fell silent, and the atmosphere in the living room became heavy.
"Huh? That? What's that! What is it?"
"......Coffee jelly."
"Hn."
"Take out the coffee jelly right now! How troublesome, you didn't take out a snack past 3 O'clock, I'm angry now!"
"Why would you be angry, doesn't Rin technically hate coffee?"
"I love coffee jelly!"
"Huuh? Didn't you say before that you didn't want......"
"I just happened to love it! I started loving it these days, so do you have an objection?"
"No, I don't have any......"
Ichika felt like a gentleman cornered and wanting to escape from Rin, and Houki took this opportunity to speak out.
"Um! That......it happens that, I also like to eat coffee jelly......"
"Wha?"
"P-Please let me taste it!"
Since she was embarrassed of it, Houki let go of Ichika's arm, and Laura took this opportunity to say.
"Taste it......oh yeah, I also need to taste it! You don't want the instructor to eat something strange, do you?"
"Y-Yeah? What is it, Laura?"
"I said that I want to help you taste it, take it out."
Cecilia and Charlotte also expressed themselves.
"R-Right! Please let me taste it......"
"Th-Then me too, I'll......"
"H-Hey, Hey, even Charl too......if it's not good then don't blame me, OK?"
Ichika, who didn't have a choice, could only stand up, and go to the kitchen so that he could take out the coffee jelly from the fridge.
"Since there are exactly six, it's just enough......though that way Chifuyu-nee's part would be gone."
"Didn't Chifuyu-nee say that she would eat it next time?"
"You're not wrong......Ye-ah."
Facing those girls who were prepared to succeed, Ichika, who was still bothered, wanted to say something, but suddenly the door opened.
"So, are you having an argument? As long as you're in this house, then you need to get along."
Chifuyu was wearing a suit——and those of the same gender as her felt that she had a devilish figure, and that they couldn't say anything.
And with that calm expression she went to the front door, ready to go outside.
"Ichika, today I won't get back, so you can do whatever you want! However, the girls can't stay overnight."
And with the explanation that 'There aren't enough beds', she left the living room.
"Is there some important work? Ye-ah......then it can't be helped."
While saying this, Ichika put the coffee jelly on the table, and sat with everyone.
"Since Chifuyu-nee likes it with a strong coffee taste, if you guys need some milk, you can serve yourselves; also I didn't put any sugar in it, so I prepared some syrup."
