“Please tell me you weren’t going to say that.”

  Rin and Charl had both predicted what I was going to say at the same time. Ugh...

  “Hahaha, of course not.”

  “Ichika, you...”

  Ugh. Houki was glaring at me with baleful eyes. No! It’s not like that! It just sprang to mind! It’s not my fault!

  “Well, that’s enough about that idiot.”

  That idiot? Really?

  “Ichika, has the student council figured out how they’re going to lend you out yet?”

  “Me? I’ve heard they were doing a drawing, then tweaking the results.”

  “Mm-hm...” Rin tried to pass it off as idle conversation, as she shoveled more chili oil-laden mapo tofu into her mouth.

  “Actually, now that you mention it. All of you are in clubs now, right?”

  I’d heard that recently, and this seemed like a good time to see if it was true.

  “I’ve been in the kendo club since I got here.”

  That was true if you counted ghost members, Houki. Though, lately you had been showing up more. I guess because of the captain’s nudging during the school festival. Sometimes you sure are a handful.

  “How about you, Rin?”

  “Lacrosse.”

  “Really? Lacrosse? Yeah, that definitely sounds like you.”

  At least the ‘swinging sticks at people’ part. Though I wouldn’t say that out loud even if you tried to carve it out of my mouth with a knife.

  “I guess. I’ve been one of the rookies they have high hopes for since I started. Honestly, it’s kind of a pain.”

  There seemed to be a clear line between the physical capabilities of those with and without personal IS. I nodded as I imagined Rin racing down the field.

  “What about you, Charl?”

  “Eh, me?!”

  “Yeah. What club did you join?”

  “Well, umm...”

  “Huh?”

  Charl twiddled her fingers, as if she was having a hard time saying it. She kept looking between me and the table, as if unsure how I’d react.

  “Um... the cooking club.”

  “The cooking club? Oh, right, we went there together during the festival!”

  “Ahh, Ichika! Sssh! Sssshhhh!”

  Hm? Why was Charl trying to shush me? For some reason, I felt like I could hear people standing up from the table in the back.

  “The cooking club, huh...”

  “M-Mhm. I wanted to learn how to cook Japanese food.”

  “I see. When you learn, I’d love to try whatever you make.”

  “Oh, sure! Of course!” Charl nodded as she spoke intently. It’s hard to believe she was the same girl who was just shushing me.

  “How about you, Cecilia?”

  “I’ve chosen a proper English sport: Tennis.”

  “Oh, I see. Did you play back at home in England?”

  “Indeed I did. Care to join me for a match sometime?”

  “I’ve never played tennis.”

  “Then—” Cecilia suddenly sat stock straight with her arms crossed. “Why, I could give you lessons! As a special favor, of course.”

  “Sounds great. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Of course!”

  The smile on Cecilia’s face relieved me. Lately, she’d been closing herself off a lot, but if she could smile like that, then there probably wasn’t anything to worry about.

  “Oh, and I’ve joined the tea ceremony club.” That was Laura, who seemed to have just finished her pasta.

  “The tea ceremony club, huh. You’re really into Japanese culture, aren’t you. Wait... Isn’t that the club my—”

  “Mein Lehrerin—that is, Ms. Orimura is the club advisor, yes.”

  I’d heard about that before. They say she weeds out her fangirls with two hours of kneeling. Really, though. Chifuyu and the tea ceremony club was an interesting combination. I always thought she’d end up involved with a sports team.

  “Are you fine kneeling, Laura?”

  “Of course. Compared to torture, it’s hardly anything.”

  I’m not sure I was comfortable with that comparison. And wait, just what kind of torture was she subjected to?

  “You know, I can’t even imagine what you’d look like in a kimono. You’ll have to show me sometime.”

  “R-Really? I suppose... Very well. If there’s a good opportunity.”

  If Laura was to wear a kimono, she’d probably tie her hair up. And it’d probably look really good on her.

  “Perhaps I should own one, anyway. Maybe I’ll buy one later.”

  “Eh? Just because I mentioned it?”

  “Don’t think too hard about it. I’m sure I’ll have many opportunities to wear it.”

  “R-Right. I see. Yeah... it’d be great around New Year’s. But aren’t you heading home for the holidays?”

  “N-No. I’m going to stay in Japan... After all, you’re here...”

  I couldn’t quite make out what she said at the end, but it seemed like Laura would be in Japan for the holidays.

  “We should all go together, really. Maybe make it there for the bell-ringing, so we can enjoy the whole thing.”

  The more of us there were, the more fun it would be.

  “Wait, what are you all doing for the holidays? I guess most of you are going home?”

  “I’m staying here,” said Charl. She was definitely becoming close friends with Laura.

  “Then I shall remain as well!”

  “Not like anything fun’s gonna happen in China.”

  Cecilia, then Rin. That left just Houki—no, wait, I just realized.

  “Houki, will you be helping out at the shrine? I know you did over summer break. Once you’re done, why don’t we pick up where we left off—”

  “You idiot!”

  Houki gave me a good hard smack.

  “Ouch! What’d you do that for?!”

  “Seriously, stop it! Don’t just let that drop!”

  “What do you mean, ‘pick up where you left off’?”

  That was Rin, Cecilia, Charl, Laura... That was everyone but Houki!

  “Ichika! Just what did you do over summer break?!”

  “Why, Ichika! I’m so very disappointed in you!”

  “I-Ichika? What exactly did you leave off?”

  “Sneaking off like that... Unforgivable.”

  The four stood up in unison.

  “Wait! Wait, I can explain! We didn’t do anything we’re not comfortable mentioning! Right, Houki? Right?”

  “Why do you have to deny it that hard...”

  “Eh?”

  Smack! Right on the head.

  “Hmph!” Houki, finished with her meal, left, taking her tray with her.

  Hey, wait! Don’t just throw me to the wolves!

  “Ah, anyway, I’m done, so I’m going to head back to my— Bwah!”

  Just as I was standing up, Rin grabbed me and stuffed me back into my seat. I was surrounded before I could even say “oww.”

  “Ichika! I want to know what you did last summer!”

  “I demand an explanation!”

  “No fair playing favorites, Ichika.”

  “It seems like you need a more concrete lesson.”

  W-Wait! Just wait! Wa— NOOOOO!

  ◆

  Hmph. Ichika’s such an idiot. Houki closed the door to her room behind her, before slumping backward onto it. Luckily, her roommate, Takatsuki Shizune, was still out, so she was able to take a breather.

  “Once you’re done, why don’t we pick up where we left off—”

  She thought back to Ichika’s words. Ba-dum. Her chest pounded. Just thinking about what happened that summer was enough to make her heart throb. As her pulse began to race, her face flushed red.

  I haven’t been practicing enough... Pressing her hands to her burning cheeks, Houki ran through the stances of Shinonono-school martial arts. She told herself ‘calm down, calm down’ over and over as images of the motions filled her mind, and compared her own movements to those memories. That’s it. The steps are quicker, the footwork is more complex... Her father, when he gripped live steel, was so vigorous, so forceful. He moved like flowing water, but with a precise sharpness. He’s wonderful.

  Houki’s goal was to be like her father and teacher, Shinonono Ryuuin. She had a genuine admiration for his abilities. And, thinking of it, he was a man who was fazed by nothing. Definitely different from Ichika in that way. That’s right! Men should be unflappable! As her mind drifted, the man in her mental images changed from her father to Ichika. But this Ichika was different. He was vigorous, forceful, resourceful, and keen. Self-confident. Magnanimous.

  “N-No! No! That can’t be him! He’s not like that at all!” Houki shook her head with such energy that her ponytail bounced like the tail of a horse at full gallop.

  “Shinonono... if you don’t move, I can’t get in.”

  “Wha—”

  Startled by the voice from outside the door, Houki sprung forward, moving her weight off it.

  “There we go.”

  “Sorry...”

  “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” Shizune smiled and settled down on her bed with a paperback. The title was ‘Way of the Warrior.’ But the entire thing was an American-style parody. Shizune may have seemed super-serious, but she loved trashy—in a good way—comedies. If you asked her, she’d say they took away her worries.

  “By the way, Shinonono.”

  “W-What?”

  “Another complaint. You girls with your own IS are still hogging Orimura.”

  “It’s not like I can do anything about it myself.”

  “Isn’t the thing where he’s lent out to clubs going to start soon, though?”

  Recently it had been announced that Ichika, although joining the executive branch of the student council, would be lent out to other clubs to help with whatever needed doing. There were a number of objections that perhaps this ordeal should be settled with IS, but student council president Sarashiki Tatenashi sat everyone back down with the Faustian bargain of ‘Don’t worry. The most cooperative clubs will get priority.’

  Jeez, he’s just so... so... Still, though, Houki was a member of the Kendo club. The prospect of Ichika coming to practices pleased her. I’m sure that if he sees me, even Ichika will realize— She shook her head again to snap herself out of it. No, that’s not it! It’s not like that, just... It’s kinda like that. It was an excuse made to no one in particular, but Houki still felt a little guilty about it. Ugh... It’s really not really like that, though! I would never be so fickle as to—

  “Shinonono?”

  “Y-Yes?!”

  “Are you okay? You seem really worried about something.”

  “I— No. I’m fine.”

  “Oh.”

  Shizune turned back to her book. To Houki, Shizune’s blasé reaction only highlighted her own awkwardness even more, and she sunk into deep embarrassment. It’s Ichika’s fault... This is all Ichika’s fault... She was just lashing out in anger, but it still consumed her until she finally fell asleep.

  ◆

  “Ugh... They chewed me up and spit me out...”

  After finally being released from my interrogation, I wandered back to my room in a daze.

  “Welcome back. I thought I’d just drop in.”

  “Tatenashi...” I slumped in resignation.

  Sarashiki Tatenashi. IS Academy’s student council president. The strongest student in the school. A year older than me.

  Her personality is... Maybe you’d say ‘uninhibited,’ maybe you’d say she’s a ‘free spirit,’ maybe you’d just say she’s like a cat. She must be quite accustomed to just opening up my room and walking in, as she was sprawled out on the bed reading a fashion magazine.

  “.........”

  “What’s up? Oh, are you trying to peek at my panties?”

  “U-Um, could you not kick your legs up like that when you’re wearing a skirt? I don’t even get to choose whether I want to or not!”

  “Mm-hm. So you saw them?”

  “Well...”

  “Question, then. What color were they?”

  “They... were pink.”

  “Oh dear. You’re such a pervert.”

  Ugh, what was with her?! Was she just here to make fun of me? Every time she came to my room it was like this.

  “Anyway, there’s something I wanted to talk with you about today.”

  “What.”

  “Don’t be so standoffish. This is serious. It’s about that organization.”

  ‘That organization’ could only mean one thing: Phantom Task. I suddenly snapped back to attention.

  “This is all unofficial, but they just attacked an American IS base. Their target seems to have been the IS itself. You should make sure they don’t manage to get yours.”

  “Of course. I don’t plan on falling for the same trick again.”

  “Excellent. I like a man who learns his lesson— Now, will you keep learning them until I’m absolutely fascinated with you?”

  That’s... a pretty high hurdle, but she must have high standards, with a family like hers. I couldn’t even imagine what the ideal man for her would look like. And what kind of person will she end up with?

  “Oh, are you worried about me? Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. After all, women have their needs too. I’m sure I’ll find someone.”

  “Uhh...”

  “Maybe it will even be you, Ichika.”

  “Ahaha...” That joke again. I squeezed out a dry chuckle.

  “I can’t believe you. That honestly hurt.”

  “Well, just, uh...”

  “Children who say that kind of thing need a good tickling.”

  “Please no. That really wasn’t fun.”

  It didn’t help that, while she was tickling me, her voluptuous chest and soft thighs were pressed up against me. In fact, it was dangerous. In more ways than one.

  “I think it’s time for what your body craves, Ichika.”

  Tatenashi closed in on me, her fingers grasping. Oh no! If I didn’t get out of there, I— Knock, knock.

  “Ichika, do you have a minute?”

  The sudden knock was followed up with Charl’s voice. I’m saved!

  “Sure! Just a sec, I’ll get the door!”

  This was my way out of Tatenashi’s tickle torture! I was practically pumping my arms in the air as I walked to the door.

  “Sorry to bother you.”

  “Come on in!”

  “Eh?” Charl suddenly froze as she saw Tatenashi’s smile. Her expression stiffened from surprise to a terrifying blankness.

  “Ichika, what were you two doing?”

  “Oh? Nothing, just chatting.”

  “Hmm... Then why’d you say I could come in?”

  “Why’d— Huh? Charl, are you mad about something?”

  “Why would you think that? Of course I’m not. I’m not mad at all.”

  Whoa! I could practically see her veins bulging in anger and flames dancing behind her! Why? Why, Charl?!

  “I’ll be leaving now. Take all the time in the world, Charlotte.”

  “Understood.”

  So what, she shows up to make a mess and then runs away? What was she, some kind of one-woman guerrilla army? Ah well. Life isn’t fair. Tatenashi, having made things awkward, made her way out.

  “Um...”

  “.........”

  A sudden silence fell over us.

  “Uh, anyway, why not have a seat? Shall I make some tea?”

  “Oh, thanks. I’m fine on the tea, though.”

  “Okay.”

  I sat on my bed with nothing to do to take the awkwardness away. For once, Charl sat next to me rather than across from me.

  “Er, um...”

  “What?”

  “Oh, uh, it’s nothing.” Charl’s voice from close to the side was clear and bright. If a voice could do damage, I’d have been peppered with holes. I guess. Anyway, even though I didn’t have anything to be guilty about or anything, the silence was still weighing on me. It was like being on pins and needles. Ugh...

  “Pff—” Charl suddenly tried to hold back a chuckle. “Ahahah. Really, Ichika, I’m not mad. You don’t have to be so nervous.”

  “Oh? Uh... Really?”

  “You’re squirming like a guy who just got walked in on cheating. It’s hilarious, hahaha.”

  Her smile was pure, without a hint of suspicion. It seemed like she really wasn’t angry.

  “Anyway, uh. What were you mad about before?”

  “You’re getting way too friendly with Tatenashi.”

  “Huh? I don’t think so. Isn’t she friends with everyone?”

  “...That wasn’t what I meant.”

  Huh? What was that? Charl had whispered something, but I couldn’t quite make it out.

  “Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something.” Charl had suddenly gotten very fidgety and was fiddling her fingers as she glanced at me sideways. “Um, well. You know how you got me this bracelet? I... I wanted to return the favor, and get you something to wear for your birthday. What do you think?”

  She seemed really on edge as she started talking, but by the time she finished she was leaning close in and speaking intently.

  “Oh, the bracelet from this summer? Well...” I rolled up my sleeve and showed her my right arm. On it was a gauntlet, my IS Byakushiki in standby mode. “I kind of have this.”

  “We-Well!” She leaned in closer. “How about a watch? I’m sure that would come in handy!”

  As she spoke, she pulled up her own left sleeve, revealing a women’s watch that was both delicate and cute.

  “Huh. That’s a nice watch.”

  “Isn’t it? And they make a men’s design, so we could have matching—”

  “But I don’t really use watches. I just pull out my phone.”

  “.........”

  That’s funny. I could see her grimace as she tried to keep up her smile. Why, though?

  “Ichika, if you want to look sharp, you need a watch.”

  “Uh. If you put it that way...”

  It didn’t seem like I had the option of disagreeing. But why?

  “Anyway, why don’t we go shopping downtown this weekend? I wanted to look at the clothes anyway.”

  “I guess. Why don’t we?”

  “Really?! You promise? Promise me you will!” Charl held out her pinky. Ever since she’d learned that pinky swears were originally a Japanese thing, Charl had been a little bit fixated on them. I had no reason not to go along with it, so it ended up being a regular thing between us.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10