Infinite Stratos - Volume 3, page 2
(B-But, that...if Ichika likes girls with large breasts, it would be a different thing altogether...)
She remembered that when she argued against Cecilia last month, she couldn't help but grab Ichika's arm.
To Houki, that was an unbelievably daring thing to do for her normally, but seeing that Ichika realized that she's of the opposite gender, it made her even happier than she imagined.
Truth be told, even though she wanted to go against Cecilia, just having Ichika's arm touch her breasts made her self-aware and embarrassed at the same time. However--
(If that can make Ichika be aware of me...)
Anyway, that's good as well. No matter how much kendo training she puts in, she's still a girl in her youth, so it's unavoidable that she would like someone.
And there's also the seaside school this month. In terms of timing, there's nothing better than this activity.
Of course, the main aim of the seaside school is to have IS equipment mobilization in the open unlimited space, but this is IS Academy, where 99% of them are girls, so naturally they would consider the girls' feelings. The first day would be free and easy--in other words, everyone can swim or play, and the school did think of the students feelings by not limiting them to just school swimsuits. It's all free and easy.
(This is a rare chance...!)
There will be an intense battle to get the only guy, Ichika. Though this is to be expected. Houki has her own plan.
"Okay! I'll get him to buy something with me this weekend!"
Unknowingly, as Houki clenched her fist, her voice echoed throughout the bathroom that has only her in it.
◇
(...Okay.)
Having used the shower to wash away her sweat and blow her hair dry, her clean summer clothes were already put on herself.
Then, she checked her hair thrice, cleared her throat five times to adjust her voice. After doing all that, Houki finally knocked on Ichika's room door.
*Knock* *knock*.
"I-Ichika, are you in there? It's a rare chance, so how about we go out for breakfast?"
Silence, no response.
"Ichika? Are you still sleeping? You'll miss breakfast if you don't wake up."
But even after saying that a second time, she didn't get a response.
Somewhat unhappy, Houki placed her hand on the door handle.
*Clack*.
(Hm? The door isn't locked...that guy's really careless. Really!)
"I'm going in, Ichika. Hurry up and get ready--"
"Ge..."
"Mu?"
*BISSH!!* Houki's expression, movements and her entire body froze.
As she pushed the door open and walked in, she saw a thoroughly naked Laura pressing on Ichika's body, getting ready to kiss him. For some reason, Ichika didn't look like he was making any resistance.
Understanding till this part, Houki finally lost it.
"ICHIKA! WH-WHA-WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU WEAK BASTARD!!"
*SWOOSH!* She drew out a real sword at one go. That was the result of training everyday, but to Ichika, who's being pointed at, this isn't a joke.
"What? Hold it, Houki! That's a misunderstanding!!"
"WHAT MISUNDERSTANDING!? HOW DID I MISUNDERSTAND! HUMPH, JUST LET ME SLICE YOU UP!!"
"AHH!! STOP IT, I'M TELLING YOU TO STOP, YOU IDIOT!!"
"YOU'RE AN IDIOT! YOU BIG MORON!!"
Being unreasonable, Houki raised the blade above her head, getting into a position where she's about to slice my head in half. Unquestionably, that blade that's reflecting pure light is as serious as ever. I can tell that I won't just be injured if I get hit.
"YOU-YOU-YOU BETTER ACCEPT PUNISHMENT NOW!!"
*SWOOSH!* As the sound of the blade dancing through the wind could be heard, Ichika felt his sweat foreboding his imminent death.
--But that blade stopped at the last second. More accurately, it got blocked.
"It'll trouble me if you end up killing my bride."
"Cheh, you..."
Laura's right arm deployed the IS. It seems like she put the AIC on that part to block Houki's blade.
Being held down by that invisible force, Houki was unable to move, making her even more impatient.
On a side note, Laura's bride = Ichika. Though it should be the groom, but it's unknown where Laura heard that 'in Japan, everyone would treat the people they love as 'their bride'[3A 5]. So the conclusion became Ichika = Laura's bride. One day, just one day, I have to choke that person who taught her this extremely wrong piece of information--Ichika swore deep inside.
"Hoo, I'm saved...hm? Laura, you took off your eyepatch?"
Noticing the shiny gold left eye Laura's showing, Ichika's shocked. Once, due to a certain event, this eye changed color. It contained Laura's self-loathing past, thus she fought with her sealed left eye, but lost.
That's because that left eye had nanomachines that were used to complement the IS's extremely potent sensors. It enhances her sights, and even if the IS is in standby mode, she can see objects more than 2km away.
"I really hated this eye in the past, but not anymore."
"Oh, really? That's great."
Ichika added on with a 'no point hating your own body...' as he nodded his head. Seeing him like this, Laura blushed again.
"Be-Because you said that it's pretty..."
Seeing Laura turn away in an embarrassed manner, Ichika's heart raced for some reason. But Houki didn't feel interested.
"Che..."
"Che?"
"CHIESTOOOOOO---!!"
Roaring, Houki broke through Laura's AIC with brute force and swings down.
"WAHHH!!"
*ZUDOMU!* The blanket and bed got sliced down in half. She had such talent wielding a sword at 15 years of age. Any swordmaster who's around would definitely recruit her into his clan.
"ICHIKA!! DIE!!!"
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!!"
"How rude of you, putting moves on other people's brides."
3 people, 3 different reactions. The standoff continued as they trudged on line by line. The morning commotion proceeded until the dorm caretaker Yamada-sensei frantically came running in.
◇
"..."
After a while, the location changed. This is the first year student cafeteria. Having been released from the hellish calamity just now, I'm eating a slightly late breakfast.
On a side note, Laura's sitting beside me, and Houki's sitting opposite me.
I ordered a natto and grilled fish set, Laura chose bread, corn soup and chicken salad. As for Houki, she chose-
"Hm? Do you want to eat it?"
Having noticed my stare, Laura added 'I'll share some with you' and used her mouth to pick the bread up. Hm? Why must you use your mouth to pick up the bread...sigh, WAH!!
"Hm...what's wrong? You can bite it, you know?"
"ID-IDIOT! WHO CAN EAT LIKE THIS! THIS IS JUST LIKE KISS--"
The moment I said 'up till there', Houki forcefully slammed onto the table.
"Can you please be more quiet when eating...?"
Her lips are twitching, giving a terrifying smile.
"Fuu... are you jealous?"
"What?"
"You're envious because you couldn't do it?"
"Wh-Who, who can't do it! I-Ichika!!"
After drinking a large gulp of miso soup, Houki reaches out. Don't tell me this is...no, whatever the taste is, isn't she going to feed me with her mouth? Huh, when can I eat breakfast?
"...!...!"
The meaning of this is to prompt me to drink. So this is the meaning of talking with your eyes. It's referring to this. It'll be good if those eyes can be less like some highly-skilled sniper.
"Let me tell you something. Ichika said this himself."
Laura, who stuffed a large amount of chicken salad into her mouth, swallowed it before saying.
"Ichika likes elegant and dignified girls, you know."
"!"
Facing Laura who said that without any care, Houki revealed a mystified look.
Then, she swallows the miso soup in her mouth and then sits down. After that, she keeps a serene expression on her face as she eats her breakfast. Maybe she's mindful of the 'elegant and dignified' part, I guess? The amount of food she picked up is a lot less than usual.
(But, Houki's really a beauty when she can remain serene like this...)
Due to her daily training, her back's normally straight, and she doesn't have any additional fat on her arms and legs. The fingers that are holding the chopsticks are exceptionally pretty and her skillful use of the chopsticks has the elegance of a pianist.
"WAAHH!! I-I'M LATE...I'M ALMOST LATE...!"
Suddenly, a rare voice range.
The person who spoke hurriedly rushed into the cafeteria and picked one of the remaining sets that's closest to her.
"Yo, Charlotte."
"Ah, Ichika, good-good morning."
As there happened to be a seat beside me, I waved my hand to call her here.
It's rare for Charlotte to come to the cafeteria at such a late timing, and it's easy to tell from her hurried expression. It's true that in this situation when she just got ready to eat breakfast, she'll be late if she doesn't finish it up quickly.
"What's wrong? Charlotte? You would be punctual most of the time. Did you oversleep?"
"Y-Yeah, a bit...well, too much..."
"Oh, so Charlotte also oversleeps."
"Uu, well, yeah, oo...that's because...I went back to sleep..."
Maybe it's because she's eating? Charlotte seemed to be mumbling. Also, I don't know if it's just me, but she seemed to be delicately keeping her distance from me...?
"Charlotte..."
"Uu, hm?"
"You seem to be avoiding me."
"No, no, such thing!! Mn, not at all!!"
Though she said that, it seems that she's wary of me.
Besides, she was my roommate who stayed with me for about a month, so I can more or less tell that Charlotte's hiding something.
(But it will be irritating if I press on. Never mind. Speaking of which--)
Unknowingly, I start to look away from Charlotte who was hurriedly eating her breakfast.
On a side note, after my one on one training with her, she became rather skilled with chopsticks. Right now, for her to remove the bones of a grilled fish is as easy as washing her face before breakfast...we're eating breakfast, and I just mentioned about before breakfast[3A 6].
"I-Ichika? You're staring at me, you know? Is-Is my hair messy due to sleep?"
"No, that's not it. It's because you've been wearing guys clothes the past month that I felt it's refreshing to see Charlotte in girl's clothing."
"Re-Refreshing?"
"Hn. I feel that you're cute."
Maybe she's not used to being praised, I guess, as Charlotte immediately blushed on hearing my words.
"...Though you say-say that, you told me to wear guys clothing in the dream..."
"Hm? Dream?"
"NO-NOTHING! NOTHING AT ALL!!"
Charlotte forcefully shakes her head and waves her hands to deny it before retracting her hands to continue eating her breakfast.
And because I'd finished eating breakfast, I intended to drink some tea. However--
"OWW!!"
There was a shoe stomped on my feet, and my face got pinched.
"Saying to others that you like elegant and dignified girls, yet you're pretty frivolous, aren't you?"
"You're my bride. You should praise me more."
On a side note, Houki and Laura said these as they did those things respectively. Huh? Where did this hell come from? Do I have to keep pressing the 'B' button to escape[3A 7]? Spare me the deep-fried punishment[3A 8].
"Huh..."
Hurry up and think of somethin--okay, got a good idea!
"You're both beauties if both of you calm down."
*DONK!!*
MY FEET GOT STAMPED BY BOTH PEOPLE!! IT HURRTTSS!!
""STOP COMPARING US TOGETHER!!""
Uwahh, really terrifying...both of them are glaring at me really fiercely. What's wrong? You two hate to be mentioned together? Get along together more, you two. Really...
*DING--DONG--DANG--DONG*.
See, even the prep bell rung because both of you don't get along well with each other--hm? The prep bell?
"UWAHH! IT-IT'S THE BELL! WE HAVE TO GO GET READY FOR CLASS. HURRY UP!!"
Huh, that's weird?
Frantically getting up from the table, I was the only one left. Houki, Laura and Charlotte have already left the table and ran off...uwahh! Wait for me, you people!
"DON'T, DON'T LEAVE ME BEHIND! I REMEMBER IT'S CHIFUYU-NEE'S--NO, ORIMURA-SENSEI'S SHR[3A 9]!!"
It's practically suicide to be late.
"I don't want to die."
"Me neither."
"Sorry, Ichika."
UWWAHHH, THESE PEOPLE ARE TOO MUCH!! EVERYONE SHOULD DIE TOGETHER RIGHT!?
--On a side note, if I were in their shoes, I would've answered the same. Besides, the number of martyrs and salt content should be reduced to the lowest.
Just when I was thinking about this, we arrived at the main door. We had to change to outdoor shoes when we leave the dormitory, and we had to change back to indoor shoes once we reach back to the school building, so it was really troublesome...ugh, the three girls have already disappeared.
"Hurry up, Ichika!"
OOHH! My hand got grabbed immediately after I put on my indoor shoes on. I thought who it was. Charlotte seemed to have been waiting for me. Such a great person. Are you willing to die with me?
"I'm flying off, Ichika!"
"Huh?"
Just when I was about to ask, Charlotte's deployed parts on her legs and back, assimilated them and flew off.
This was a partial deployment of Charlotte's personal IS, the 'Raphael Revive Custom II', which was basically materializing the parts on the legs, to allow thrust, and on the back, to allow flight.
"--OWAAHH!!"
My body got dragged up suddenly. I couldn't even see anyone on the corridors when the official bell that indicates the start of lesson rings. With the IS' flight capability, Charlotte and I got up to the 3rd level in a jiffy...but, about that, what should I say...I think it's best that you don't fly with a mini-skirt, because, well...I just saw her light blue panties.
"We're here!"
"Oh? It's been tough on you."
...That's strange? The official bell hasn't rung yet, and yet the demonic teacher is already in the classroom.
The homeroom teacher of class 1-1, Orimura Chifuyu, my own older sister and the ex-representative of Japan in the IS global tournament. She's also winner of the overall and close ranged categories in the first tournament, and she's a teacher who's still as strong as an Oni even without any equipment.
I glanced at Charlotte's face, and this is the first time I saw her face turn blue like that.
"This school is established as an institute to develop IS pilots, so this place isn't affiliated to any other country or is it affected by external powers...however--"
*BAM!!* The attack of the attendance book sounded as loud as ever.
"You are not allowed to deploy IS without official permission, even if you're in school. Do you understand me?"
"Ye-Yes...I'm sorry..."
To think that the honor student Charlotte would actually do something that would break the rules. This seems to have left quite the impression on the other classmates as everyone just remained dumbstruck.
On a side note, Houki and Laura used the time when Charlotte and I got lectured and sneaked in through the back of the classroom, getting into their own seats. Huh...I guess it's to be expected, but they don't intend to help me.
"Dunois and Orimura, after school, stay behind to clean the classroom. If there's a second time, I'll make you two write a letter of reflection and live in the special classroom, am I clear?"
""Yes...""
Both of us got to our seats with dejected moods. Being scolded by the devil, tough luck.
*DING* *DONG* *DANG* *DONG*. Ignoring the occasion, the bell rung, and SHR started.
"We'll be having an ordinary lesson today. Though all of you are IS Academy students, you are all still High School students. Don't fail!"
That's right. Though there's less lesson time, we have to learn ordinary subjects. These subjects aren't tested in mid-term, but they are tested at the end of the term. If I fail, I have to spend the entire summer vacation in remedials, and that's the only outcome I want to avoid at all costs.
"Also, from next week onwards, it will be the special school trip practical lesson time. Everyone is reminded not to forget your items. We will be leaving school for 3 days, so remember not to play too much during your free time."
That's right, the special school trip practical lesson time in early July--the seaside school will last 3 days. The first day is basically free and easy. Of course, because we're going to the seaside, these girls in their youth of teenage years were already excited since last week.
On a side note, I find that buying trunks is too much of a hassle. But when I mentioned that honestly, Cecilia and Rin warned me like a machine gun, so I have to buy a pair. Well, I'll go take a look during the weekend.
But I haven't swum in the sea for a long time. Actually, I'm really looking forward to it.
"Then, that'll be the end of SHR. Everyone's to study seriously today."
"Excuse me, Orimura-sensei. Is Yamada-sensei on leave?"
The good student in class, Tagatsuki Shizune-san raised an obvious question. To be honest, I'm mindful as well, but she either overslept or got bothered by something else, right?
"Yamada-sensei went ahead to check the place for our field trip, so she won't be here today. Thus, I'm taking over Yamada-sensei's duties for today."
"Huuh, Yama-chan went to the seaside already? That's so cool~!"
"That's sneaky! She should have brought me along!"
"Ah--is she swimming? She must be swimming--!"
As expected of the girls in their teenage years. Once there's something, they can make a ruckus out of it. Chifuyu-nee found it irritating since she continued on.
