Infinite Stratos - Volume 5, page 3
It seems that she has a talent of reading people's minds. In other words, she seems like she can tell that my heart's pounding like crazy. That's really scary.
"Then, I would like you to come over to the Student Council office for a visit. Please come along. There's tea for you to drink."
"Huh?"
"So I take it as you want to go?"
To refuse her...seems like I can't do that.
"I'll go."
"Mn, very good, this onee-san likes to see Orimura Ichika-kun being so honest."
"Ju-Just call me Ichika."
"Really? Then call me Tatenashi. You can call me Ta-chan."
"I don't really mind either way. Haa..."
I raised my hands to surrender. It seems like I can't disobey this person in front of me.
Seeing that I gave up my struggle, sempai looked delighted. Unlike the mature smile she showed just now, she looks really immature, as if a childish prank had just succeeded.
◆
"...How long are you going to remain blank over there?"
"I'm so sleepy...it's so, late already..."
"Do your work."
"Got it..."
For some reason I hesitated once I heard such a voice from the other side of the door.
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"No, I think I heard that voice somewhere before..."
"Ah, that's right. She should be inside now."
After saying that, Tatenashi-sempai opened the door.
The heavy door was pushed aside without any noise, and it seems to be a rather good door.
"I'm back."
"Welcome back, Prez."
The one who welcomed her back was a third year girl. This girl with glasses and braided hair looked like a 'resolute yet efficient' person as she held the files with one hand in a manner that suited her.
The girl who was standing behind her surprised me.
"Wa...it's Orimu~"
It's Nohohon-san[5A 9]...wait, that's strange. Why?
"Mn, please sit over there. Tea will be served soon."
"O-Okay..."
Nohohon-san looks like she's six times more sleepy than usual. Though her face went up by about 3cm when she noticed me, it immediately sank back onto the table.
"We're now facing the guest. Pull yourself through."
"I, can't, do, it...I'm, sleepy. Can, I...go, back, now...?"
"Nope."
With her last ounce of hope, Nohohon-san asked the question word by word, but the third year's merciless answer crushed her completely.
"Huh, Nohohon-san? Are you tired?"
"Mn. Night...day...collecting...posters..."
"U-Um?"
"Oh my, you two are calling each other by nicknames. You two sure have a good relationship."
Tatenashi-sempai, who became President in only her second-year, let the third year sempai deal with the brewing of the tea as she raised her arms elegantly and sat down on her seat.
"Ah- no, well, I don't know her real name..."
"HUUUUUH~?"
*PAM!* Nohohon-san stood up, and for the first time, I saw her shout loudly,
"How mean~ you kept calling me by a nickname, so I thought that you liked me~..."
"No, well...sorry."
Just as I bowed down in apology because of this really insolent act, the third year sempai who served the tea here interrupted.
"Don't lie, Honne."
"Hehehe. I got seen through. Got it, nee-san~"
"Nee-san?"
"Yes, my name's Nohotoke Utsuho. My sister here is called Honne."
Nohotoke Honne. This name...it's basically Nohohon-san if I shorten her name.[5A 10]
"Huh? So you sisters joined the Student Council?"
"Yup. The Student Council President has to be the strongest, but the other members can join as long as it doesn't reach the maximum capacity, so I recruited those who grew up with me."
Tatenashi-sempai explained to me.
Oh, so these three grew up since young? Is it because Nohohon-san just said that 'We served as maids for generations'?
"Besides, it's my duty to serve ojou-sama."
Utsuho-sempai poured the tea that was just brewed into the cup.
She looked rather refined when she did that, and she gave off the vibe of a secretary or a head maid.
"An, don't call me ojou-sama."
"Sorry, I just said it out of habit."
Seeing how the conversation went, I think the Sarashiki family should be of some nobility?
I can tell that from some of Tatenashi-sempai's actions.
"Orimura-kun, please have some tea."
"Tha-Thank you."
Utsuho-sempai poured some tea for me as well. Her courteous attitude made me cautious.
"Honne, take the cake out from the fridge."
"Okay~ I'm very efficient when I'm awake~"
Are you serious...
Her movements were still as slow as ever, and she looked like she was going to fall from the way she walked, maybe because she was still groggy.
But unexpectedly, Nohohon-san didn't fall as she safely served the cake.
"Orimura--, the cake—the cake here's super super super super super super super~...delicious-"
She continued to say that as she eated her own slice of cake...well.
"Don't do that, Honne, the Nohotoke family's customs will be doubted."
"No problem, no problem. It's delicious. ♪"
"..."
The younger sister continued to focus on licking the buttercream off the base of the cake, but the strict elder sister wouldn't allow her to do that.
*GONCK!* Utsuho-sempai used her fist to slam down on her.
"Uee...it hurts..."
"Do you still want me to hit you, Honne...if that's the case, it can't be helped."
"I haven't said anything yet~ I haven't said anything at all~"
Nohohon-san's eyes were tearing up.
"Okay okay, I know you two siblings have quite the good relationship, but we have a guest in front of us now."
"I'm very sorry."
"So-Sorry..."
The three members of the Student Council turned to me again.
"Anyway, let me tell you what's going on. Ichika-kun, since you haven't joined a club yet, we received a lot of complaints. It'll be very serious if the Student Council doesn't force you to join a club."
"So that's why you set up the school anniversary voting battle...?"
That's really troublesome. I'm already busy with IS training. I don't even have time to join any club activities.
On a side note, having clubs that are formed by girls only is really, well...unreasonable. I can't join them, and I can't handle the mental stuff. What happens when it's a sports club? I don't even have a male changing room and bathroom.
"Thus, as a condition for exchange, from now until the school anniversary ends, I'll be giving you special training, including IS, of course."
"Please allow me to refuse."
"Don't say that. Ah, please have some tea. It's nice."
"...Itadakimasu."
The fragrance of the tea reached my nose. I gently took in that soothing aroma and gently sipped the red tea that was at just the right temperature.
"This tea's nice."
"Utsuho-chan's red tea is the best in the world. Next, please try the cake."
As sempai recommended me, I tried the strawberry cake that had lots of buttercream on it.
Even though there's a lot of cream, the cake tasted nice but not sickening. It's really smooth and silky...hold on, when did I become a gourmet reporter?
"And then allow me to teach you."
"No, I said that there's no need. Why do you need to teach me?"
"Hm? The reason's simple. Because you're too weak."
As she answered that really smoothly, I didn't catch her words for a while.
But the moment I realized what she said, I felt...really unhappy about that.
"I don't think I'm as weak as what you said."
"Nope, you're weak, very weak, so weak that you're pitiful. That's why I said that I'll train you until you're at least decent."
Of course, I don't have the patience to remain calm after being told that by her.
The moment I realized it, I found myself pointing at Tatenashi-sempai.
"Then let's have a match. I'll listen to you if I lose."
"Mn, okay."
That smile on her face showed the words 'You fell into my trap'.
...Uh oh.
◆
"Erm...this is?"
"Yup, that's a hakama."
"I know that!"
Tatenashi-san and I were facing each other on the tatami dojo after school. Right now, we look like martial artists from ancient Japan who had been wearing the white torso guard and the navy blue hakama.
There's only sempai and I in the dojo. The Nohotoke sisters seemed like they had work, but well... then again, Nohohon-san's actually a Student Council member.
"Okay, as for the winning conditions, you win if you can make me fall onto the ground."
"Huh?"
"But on the other hand, I win if you can't continue to fight. Will that do?"
"Huh, no, wait, hold on..."
Isn't that too disadvantageous to sempai? Just when I wanted to say that, she said first,
"I'll win anyway, so it doesn't matter."
"..."
Even though I knew it was a low-level taunt, I couldn't help but get angry as I got into a defensive stance.
When I was learning kendo at Houki's dojo, I also trained in ancient barehanded martial arts in anticipation that the blade would break.
My body already remembered that skill, and I wouldn't forget it completely even though I'm somewhat estranged to it.
"I'm coming over."
"Anytime you're ready."
The smile didn't vanish from Tatenashi-san's face at all, and the casual expression made her all the more enigmatic.
(Anyway, let's try this.)
I firmly slid my foot over and grabbed Tatenashi-san's arm. However...
"!"
She immediately countered and grabbed me, and my body got tossed hard onto the tatami mat.
For a moment, I lost my breath. I felt tremendous pressure within my lungs, and after choking out some air, Tatenashi-san's finger seemed to be searching for my carotid artery as she stroke me.
"U..."
"That's win number one."
After letting me realize that she could kill me in that situation, Tatenashi-san let go of me.
(She's strong...!)
I can't beat Tatenashi-san if I don't have the attitude of going against Chifuyu-nee. That's what I thoroughly realized.
But if that's the case, I can't take action casually. Things just got sticky.
"..."
"Mn? You're not coming over? I'm going over then!"
*Don*. She suddenly closed in on me quickly. The way she slid on the floor was perfect. No wait, that's one of the secret ancient techniques 'No Rhythm'[5A 11]
Simply put, humans live through 'rhythm'. Besides the heartbeat, there's the breathing rhythm, so for example, the so-called 'Matching presence' is a positive show of this. In contrast, a 'non-matching presence' would be the opposite.
An attack that deliberately messes with the rhythm of the opponent is called a 'Striking Rhythm'[5A 12], and one that controls is called the 'Equal Rhythm'[5A 13].
And the move of the highest class causes people to be unable to feel the rhythm. The martial art move that uses the undetectable rhythm is called 'No Rhythm'.
"Uh oh—"
With the sounds of three hits, my elbows, shoulders and abdomen got hit lightly, and while my body stiffened in reflex, sempai landed her palms on my chest.
"Kaa, haa...!"
The air in my lungs got forced out, shaking my consciousness. And then—
"Watch your feet."
*ZUDON!* My back landed hard on the tatami mat.
And as I got thrown- it seemed that she used the 'penetrate'[5A 14] move to touch several of my joints. Even though I tried to get up immediately, the slight numbness made it hard for me to move around easily.
"That'll be two wins for me. Do you want to fight on?"
Her clothes completely unruffled, Tatenashi-san gave me a gentle smile.
But since I'm a guy, how can I give up so easily!
"It's not over yet. I can still fight...!"
But even though I said that, my body was still unable to move.
I breathed in deeply, and got myself up as I exhaled.
"Mn, hardworking guys are really amazing."
"You flatter me..."
Deep inside, I commanded my legs that were wobbling, and barely managed to stop myself from wobbling any further.
Tatenashi-san faced me again. Even though she's been giving me the same smile all this time, to me, it's a terrifying face that's hidden deep within.
It's like a thick fog in the forest that doesn't let anyone see what's inside. Humans aren't afraid because it's thick. They're afraid of the unknown inside that they can't grasp.
This can be applied to this person.
The iron wall-like smile made me unable to guess her true thoughts.
However, I can't say that it's a lying smile.
Tatenashi-san's been smiling all this while, but I'm really at a loss because I don't know why she's smiling.
(Calm down...calm down...I'm not facing a monster. Since my opponent's a human who can stand on both legs, there's a way to beat her.)
I took two deep breaths.
A candle flame that wouldn't waver appeared in my head as I calmed myself down and gathered my concentration.
"Mn, you're serious now."
"..."
Facing my silent response, sempai responded silently as well. At this moment, there's a really tense feeling between us, as if both sides are about to use their killer moves.
(Got to have the determination to take down the opponent in one hit...let's go!)
I utilized the Shinonono ancient martial arts hidden technique 'No Rhythm' to break sempai's 'still' with my 'move'—and attacked before my opponent could.
"!"
Perhaps feeling that my speed now is completely different from behind, Tatenashi-san took half a step back to gain a suitable distance.
(I win!)
Before sempai's foot landed, I reached out and grabbed her arm to swing her—out?
*ZUDONL!*
"Kahaa!"
This time, I was the one who fell forward as my chest landed directly on the tatami mat. I started coughing, and my consciousness became all blurry.
But I used my momentum to suppress this unbearable feeling and grabbed Tatenashi-san's ankle.
"Oh my."
"It's my win now!"
I forcefully swung her ankle up and grabbed the body of the opponent that was flying back.
"That's too naive."
Normally speaking, I did grab her from under her armpits, and yet sempai used her right hand to support herself on the tatami mat in an unbelievable manner. She then spun around to shake me off before landing a Capoeira kick.
"What?"
"Your attack's not too bad."
(Martial arts and ancient martial arts and Capoeira[5A 15]? Just who the hell is she?)
I finally realized what she meant by the 'strongest'. It isn't just some bluff or daydream, but a down-to-earth fact.
Even so, I can't lose to her.
Right now, I can only hang on. This is the only part I can't succumb, a man's determination.
"GYYAAAAAHHH!!!"
Even though my body got kicked, I landed on my hands and feet before rushing forward.
In front of me, sempai already recovered as she smiled.
(At this point, I'll use any means! Anyway, I can't lose here!)
I hastened myself again and swung my fist hard at sempai.
—In the end
"Ahh..."
"Kya~"
Sempai's torso guard was completely open, and the cleavage that covered in the bra bounced out.
The breasts under the high-quality laced underwear looked quite voluminous, and they definitely won't lose to Houki's...no wait, what am I thinking!?
"Ichika-kun no ecchi."
"What?"
Even if I want to find an excuse, this situation's completely my fault.
Wavering inside, I'm full of openings. Sempai didn't shriek at all as she quickly pushed my hand aside.
(Ahh, I'm deeaaaaddd!!)
And at the next moment, I fully experienced what's called an aerial jumbo.
How many times did I get hit by sempai? I lost count after the seventeenth hit, and gave up on it—actually, I fainted.
"Onee-san's underwear show's pretty expensive, you know?"
Kukuku. In the end, I seemed to hear a happy laugh.
◆
"Where did he go? Really...that bride's a failure."
Today, Laura was handling Ichika's IS training.
As the second term started, Ichika suggested that it was really inefficient to have everyone coaching him. Everyone felt that it was true and thus decided to do it in a routine manner.
As the special training was to begin today, Laura, who was often lucky at the critical moment, was the first person to coach him...but even though she was lucky, they just played janken.
(Speaking of which, that guy's been spending too little time with me. That's preposterous.)
Moving quickly, Laura gradually slowed down before stopping.
(Is he avoiding me...?)
Obviously looking somewhat anxious, Laura tried to shake away her cowardly thoughts as she shook her head.
(No, there's no problem! No problem, no problem...I guess.)
However, once this idea popped up in her mind, it was hard for a girl's fragile heart not to be clouded.
Right now, Laura's heart was being taken by some mysterious anxiety. Her impulses made her want to use the IS private communicator to check Ichika's location, something that was against the rules.
(Nobody's looking...I won't be spotted...Okay, it's alright. I just need to activate it for a short while and get the data...)
I'm still feeling guilty, right? Laura looked around to check the situation, something rare for her.
(Ve-Very good. Now I just need to activate my IS in stealth mode.)
"..."
She held back her crazily beating heart *DOKI DOKI* and secretly activated the IS.
