Infinite Stratos - Volume 1, page 2
"KYAAAHH! ONEE-SAMA! SCOLD US MORE! CONTINUE TO SCOLD US MORE!!"
"BUT BE GENTLE TO US FROM TIME TO TIME!"
"AND BE EXTREMELY ELEGANT AFTERWARDS~!"
At least my classmates are good at being energetic.
However, I was rather shocked and confused at my homeroom teacher being Chifuyu-nee -- that shouldn't be the case, but I managed to calm down due to all of the girls' shouting. Of course, when there's such turmoil right next to you, one will consciously calm down, or something like that. I've experienced such things before.
"Oi, so you failed at making even a simple greeting?"
Extremely sarcastic, extreme sarcasm — is this the meaning of being strict? My own elder sister who takes care of me, she's just that kind of a person.
"No, Chifuyu-nee, I—"
PANG! That's the third time this has happened today, got that, Chifuyu-nee? 5000 brain cells die every time my head's hit.
"Call me Orimura-sensei."
"...Yes, Orimura-sensei."
"Eh...? Then, it means that Orimura-kun is Chifuyu-sama's younger brother...?"
"Maybe that has something to do with him being the only guy in the world that can use the IS?"
"Ah~ Great. I really wanted to switch him over."
I'll ignore those words for now. Let's move forward.
I came here to this public IS Academy as the only male in the world who can pilot the 'IS'.
The IS Academy is, as its name suggested, an educational corporation meant to nurture IS operators. The Japanese government sees it as a principle duty to fund it and run it. However, the results of the research are revealed to the entire world due to the common agreement, and at the same time, Japan has no right to either remain silent or hide them. No matter what happens in this school, the Japanese government has to intervene fairly, and has the obligation of settling these matters under the premise that all the countries in the treaty have agreed upon. Also, the school has opened its doors to foreign students without any conditions, and the Japanese government is to provide protection—as accorded to the contents of the IS treaty regarding IS pilot training agencies.
This is the school's code of discipline.
Basically, it's like 'damned Japan, creating the IS and causing chaos in the world, the very least you could do build a school to train individuals in this area of expertise. And hand over your research and technology. Ah, and you will be bearing all the financing costs'. A certain country A is really a rogue.
(Why am I at this school? ...Well, because I activated a test IS in an IS examination arena, but speaking of which, how did I end up getting in there?...)
—Are Aoetsu Gakuen and the IS Academy similar? Anyway, that seemed to be the case.
"..."
Suddenly, in this extremely excited classroom, I felt a stare.
Looking back, Houki, who was just now looking outside the classroom, turned around to stare at me.
(Hm—, though she doesn't look angry... did I do something?)
Never mind, I'll ask her later.
Just as I was thinking about it, the bell rang.
"Oh my, SHR is over. Everyone, I'll have you memorize the basics of IS within the next 6 months. After that, it's practicals, you must let the basic maneuvers sink in as a part of your body's instincts within half a month. Okay? If you understand, answer me. Whether acceptable or otherwise, respond to whatever I announce."
Oh, a demon trainer from Hell. Right now, Chifuyu-nee could be a demon in a human skin. No, I would still be able to handle it if it was a demon, because they aren't human. And yet this person in front of me seemed to acknowledge only half of the human functions, how inconsiderate.
Either way, this Orimura Chifuyu was the first generation IS pilot that represented Japan, and was undefeated in an actual match. However, one day, she announced her retirement and disappeared... which must mean that she came here to teach... she should have at least told me as a family member... I was an idiot for worrying about her.
"SIT DOWN, YOU FOOL!"
Yes, yes ... I'm an idiot.
◇
"Aahh-..."
I can't bear it. It's too much work. I can't. I'm desperate.
".................."
The first theory class for IS is finally finished, and it is now break. But, I didn't know how to react to the abnormal aura within the classroom.
Incidentally, while the IS institute is a profit-earning business, there is also education about IS, that make up the daily courses. The structure of the school? You can look at the map by yourself.
(But, I couldn't make it out one way or another...)
Apart from me, everyone here is a girl. Not only my class, but everyone in the school.
Incidentally, the news that 'I'm the only male able to pilot an IS' has also spread throughout the world, everyone knows about me, from the people of the school to the students.
Which is why, in the middle of the corridor there are girls from the other classes, as well as 2nd and 3rd year sempais. Even though I'm used to seeing girls, but in this case, almost no one has approached me to talk. It seems that, from their expressions, schoolgirls of the same year are thinking 'come talk to me'. The air filled with 'Hey, are you running away from your problems', kind of tension bearing aura.
By the way, even though the IS Academy is the world's only specialized IS school, a lot of schools with the intention of stimulating their students, enter them in the IS study program, so they can take advanced studies.
And these types of schools are 100% all-female. However, in the end, the girls from such schools have almost no immunity against males, and as for the boys in a normal society, there's a dilemma about their status.
The current weapons are waste metal in front of an IS, that's why the balance of the world's military has been broken. And because IS was invented by the Japanese, Japan had monopolized the IS technology. The other countries that had become more aware of the threat signed an IS Application Protocol—commonly called the 'Alaska Treaty', and had authorized the disclosure of the IS's technology and sharing of information, establishing a foundation of world research institutions, and prohibiting military usage, among other things.
That is why, the number of IS pilots in a country has a very close relationship with its military force (a credible defense force). Only girls can be pilots, so all the involved countries created a prioritized female protection program.
That's why, because the ideology that 'woman = great' was accepted, in but the last ten years women had become considered superior to men.
When suddenly an equal 'man' had appeared, it was obvious that there would be curiosity first.
(After that, we arrive at our present predicament.)
By chance I looked over at the girl sitting in the next desk, and though she was staring at me before, she immediately looked away in a panic. It created a feeling of anxiety of 'being approached'.
Also, becoming the object of the entire country's girls' admiration, along with being titled Orimura Chifuyu's little brother seemed to make things very complicated.
(Who could lend me a hand in this kind of situation...)
Suddenly, I thought about my old friend Gotanda Dan. That guy always said that he envied me, where is he now? It still isn't too late to switch places with me.
"...Excuse me for a moment."
"Eh?"
Suddenly, someone talking to me. Seemed like there's a winner among the girls who were trying to duke it out?...No, from the almost silent conversations that were carried out inside and outside of the classroom, there's only one girl who would do so.
"...Excuse me"
"..."
In front of my eyes stood the childhood friend whom I last saw six years ago.
Shinonono Houki. We learned kendo together in the same dojo. Her hairstyle was still in the ponytail I remembered. Her more than shoulder-length hair was tied together with a single white ribbon (Shinonono dojo is a half-shrine).
Even though her height is the average for girls of her age, an effect of her practising kendo over these long years is that she has acquired a slender shape. According to her, she was born with her scowl. ... no, even the possibility of being hated by her isn't zero. Actually, when she called my name, it wasn't just my imagination that she was angry.
My impression of Houki, is someone that reminds you of a katana, which has in these six years grown ever sharper.
"Is it OK if we talk in the corridor?"
It's probably hard to talk in the classroom. Forget it, if it can pull me out of this current uncomfortable situation, nothing else matters. It's really a childhood friend who lends a hand. Not fickle. Wanting to apologize to me for what she said before. Ah, me.
"Quickly."
"I-I know."
Houki hurried to the corridor, and the girls gathered there stepped away in the blink of an eye. Like Moses parting the sea.
Even though I came out to the corridor, Houki and I were surrounded by others four meters in diameter. Also, I kinda have the feeling that everyone is eavesdropping. The classroom was also silent.
"By the way..."
"What?"
I just thought about it, so I initiated the conversation. Say Houki, you asked me to come but you're not saying anything, is it too late?
"Last year, you won the world kendo championship, right? Congratulations."
"..."
After Houki heard me say that, her mouth immediately became the shape of a 'へ', and her cheeks turned red. ...Huh? Why is she angry? I was obviously congratulating her.
"Why do you know that?"
"Why, because I saw it in the newspaper..."
"Why, why did you see it in something like a newspaper."
What are you getting at, Houki? I don't understand. It's obvious that one reads newspapers, when they like them. Also, even though I haven't heard you speak for a long time, you haven't changed a bit, still talking like a man, like a warrior.
"Ah--also."
"Wh-what?"
"..."
"Ah, no..."
Finally I noticed the hostile attitude, Houki becoming uneasy, and now inconceivably excited. Unbelievable girl.
"It's been a long time since we have seen each other. Even though it's been six years, I still recognized you immediately."
"Eh..."
"You see, the same hairstyle." I pointed at my own head while saying this, and Houki immediately started playing with her ponytail.
"At-at least you still remember."
"That, I can't forget that, since we are childhood friends. "
"..."
A fierce gleam flashes. I'm still being glared at. Huh-, why?
Ding--Dong--Dang--Dong.
Aye, time has already passed. The bell announcing the second period rings, and the bunch that had encircled Houki and me consequently dispersed. They spread like wildfire. Hmm... no wonder they're IS pilots, their actions are swift.
"Let's return to the classroom too."
"I-I know."
Houki immediately showed an unhappy face, and hurried back in the same manner she came. It seems that this childhood friend of mine has no intention of waiting for me. Six years and she has already become like this? -No, that's not it. Houki was like this from the very beginning.
Resolute in following through her decisions, improving herself steadily day by day, engaging in training daily, stubborn and unyielding. Shinonono Houki is a girl who is more befitting of these descriptions than any guy. She hasn't changed since elementary school.
"..."
She was still staring at me fiercely. That's not good, did she read my mind? Houki has, since childhood, always seemed to become especially acute to when someone has spoken ill of her. -No, I'm not speaking ill of you. It's entirely my wish.
Bang!
"Why aren't you sitting already, Orimura."
"I'm very grateful to be under your guidance, Orimura-sensei."
It's only morning, and twenty thousand of my brain cells have already died.
◇
"...Thus, the basic operations of IS have to be guided by the country. If no permission is granted, we have to pursue criminal responsibilities..."
Yamada-sensei continued with her lesson ever so eloquently. However, I didn't understand anything at all.
"..."
Five heavy books were sitting in front of me. Just flipping to the top most page, I could only see columns and columns of meaningless text. .
(Er, is it only me? Am I the only one who doesn't understand what's going on? Do the rest know? This active whatever offsets that wide-area something, what does it mean? Does it mean that I have to memorize everything...?)
I took a peek at the girl on the next table, and could only see her listening to Yamada-sensei's words, nodding away and jotting down notes from time to time.
(Ku... don't tell me those rumors about IS students studying before they enrolled are true...)
IS pilots have a direct link with our national security strength, so in a certain sense, this school exists to groom the elites. Also, these are scholars who managed to ace exams several times tougher than regular entrance exams.
(Though I'm not too interested in being an elite... hm-, can't let this continue. Anyway, got to study.)
Feeling somewhat inferior, I lowered my head, and unknowingly, I peeked over at the girl who was jotting down notes.
"Is-, is there something wrong?"
As expected, after the girl noticed me looking at her, she expressed surprise and nervousness, showing a forced smile that conveyed a certain kind of expectation.
"Ah, no, it's nothing. Sorry."
"Is-, is that so?"
After hearing that, the girl showed me a look of relief and disappointment, before returning back to working in her notebook...hm~ did I do something to upset her?
"Is there something you don't understand, Orimura-kun?"
Yamada-sensei noticed me talking to the girl besides me, and thus specifically asked me.
"Ah, that..."
I again looked back at the textbooks —mm, I don't understand anything at all.
"If you have any questions, please ask me. I'm a teacher after all."
Yamada-sensei lifts her chest up and answers confidently. Oh, maybe she really is reliable. Alright, I'll give it a go.
"Yamada-sensei!"
"Yes, Orimura-kun?"
An answer that's full of enthusiasm. Seems like this will work, as expected of a teacher.
"I don't understand anything at all."
I honestly blurted out my shortcoming. When I do this, usually, others tend to empathize with me.
"Erm...ev, everything...?"
Yamada-sensei looked extremely bothered wearing a completely stiff expression...that's weird? Where did that reliable teacher go?
"Th-Then...except for Orimura-san, is there anybody else who doesn't understand the current lesson up till this point?"
Yamada-sensei raised her hand to prompt the class.
Silence...
Strange, that's too strange. Nobody raised their hand. If they only understood half of it to begin with, they'll definitely regret it in the future. Is that alright, is that really alright, with everyone?
"...Orimura, did you read the reference book before entering the school?"
Waiting for an opportunity at the side of the classroom, Chifuyu-nee asked. Alright, I decided to reply honestly.
"I mistook it for the old telephone book and threw it away."
PANG!
"Didn't I write 'compulsory to read' on it, you fool?"
Another 5,000 of my brain cells died. Damn it, it'll be cheaper to have the coroner to give me a checkup now.
"I'll issue you another copy later, but you must memorize it within a week, got it?"
"No, that, the thickness is a little..."
"I'm telling you to do it."
"...Fine, I'll do it."
Already surpassing the designation of demonic sergeant, Chifuyu-nee glared at me. A devil, she's a devil in human clothing. She's a human and yet she's so inconsiderate, how could she not understand the limitations of human beings?
"Whether it's in terms of mobility, firepower or suppressing ability, the IS far surpasses all the older weapons in that aspect. If you don't understand this weapon 'thoroughly' before operating it, accidents will occur. We teach you basic knowledge and train you to prevent such accidents from occurring. Even if you can't understand, memorize it, and remain strong and steady. These are the rules and regulations."
Yes, that's completely true.
Let me add on one thing, I didn't wish to be here.
One day, a group of black-clad men came up beside me, said something about 'we'll protect you' and left a notification letter regarding enrolment into the IS Academy. I don't understand, does this 'protection' consist of tossing a boy into a girls' garden and abandoning him? Right now, I want protection, and Chifuyu-nee's the reason.
"...You brat, you're thinking that you didn't come here of your own choice, right?"
I was shocked. Why did she consider it alright to reveal my thoughts so brazenly?
"No matter whether you wished for it or not, people can't get away from an interactive life. If you want to abandon it, abandon your identity as a human first."
As sharp as ever, it's about time for me to face reality. Chifuyu-nee was a realistic person right from the very beginning, and I know the reason.
"..."
Ho— looks like I have to work.
Well, maybe I won't be able to get to the level where Chifuyu-nee wont be all red in the face, but at least I don't want her to be embarrassed on the professional field.
I won't abandon my family members, unlike my parents who I had never seen.
"Th-Then, Orimura-kun, I'll teach you everything that you don't know, so you must work hard? Alright? Alright?"
Yamada-sensei tightened her hands and closed in. As she's shorter than me, it naturally turned to her shyly looking away.
"Yes. Then, I'll leave it to sensei after school."
After saying that, I sat down. Chifuyu-nee also returned to the side of the classroom.
"After-, after school... a teacher together with a student, two people alone after school... Ah! No, no, Orimura-kun. Your sensei will become weak when she's forced... and this is my first time with a guy..."
