Infinite Stratos - Volume 1, page 4
The last few words were said softly, so that only I could hear them.
On a side note, the government she's referring to is obviously the Japanese government. Without exception, there haven't been any 'male' IS pilots before, so even the country has taken measures to protect and keep watch over me.
Ever since news about me as an IS pilot broke out, it was either the mass media, the ambassadors from other countries, or even human DNA research people that were sent over, saying that 'we have to do a live sample no matter what'. Whoever would go along with that is an idiot.
"Because of those circumstances, the government created a special directive. Anyway, you'll live in a dorm until your room is prepared in a month. So until then, please endure, and live with others."
"...Well, Yamada-sensei, your breath is making my ear all itchy."
Speaking of which, how long is she going to bite on my ear? Everyone else in the class really seems to be enjoying this.
"Ah, no, this is because... it wasn't on purpose..."
"There's no need to apologize, I know... since there's a room for me, I've got to go back and get my stuff. So can I go back home today?"
"Ah, no need. If it's luggage—"
"I've already arranged everything. Be sure that you are grateful for this."
Oh my, this voice definitely belongs to Chifuyu-nee. Immediately, the tune of Darth Vader played in my mind without a moment's hesitation. On a side note, there's also another tune in my mind. It's called the Terminator.
"I-I'm extremely thankful for it..."
"Well, it's just some daily necessities. Some changes of clothing and a cellphone charger should be enough, I suppose."
As expected of an unrefined and careless individual. In truth, she's right, but personally, I feel that everyday conveniences are important as well, nee-san.
"Then please use this time and head to the dormitory. For dinner, please be sure to head down to the first-year dorm cafeteria from 6 to 7pm. On a side note, each room has a shower, and there's a large public bath. The time to use it differs by school year...hm, well, currently, Orimura-kun is not allowed to use the large public bath."
"Eh, why?"
I really like bathing in a large public bath.
"Are you an idiot? Do you want to bath together with girls of the same age as you?"
"Ah—..."
Oh yeah. Besides me, everyone here is a girl.
"Ya, Orimura-kun, you want to bathe with a girl!? No, we can't allow it."
"No, it's not that. I don't want to bathe together."
I don't know if I'm unlucky or what. Speaking of which, it's forbidden outside school as well. This is an ethical issue.
"Wha? You're not interested in girls!? That, that could become a problem..."
What now. She has no clue what I'm talking about.
Immediately as the words left Yamada-sensei's mouth, it would spread around rumors like a broken telephone. The females' chatter in the corridors started to intensify.
"Don't tell me Orimura-kun's only interested in guys..."
"However... that's not bad."
"We'll need to check starting from his middle school days! It'll be done soon! The results will be here in 2 days."
Talking about this and that.
"Then, I have a meeting to attend to, so goodbye. Orimura-kun, please head to your dorm room, and don't wander about aimlessly."
Considering that the distance from the school to the dorm is only 50m, do I need to be heading there directly even with it being so close?
It's true that they have all sorts of facilities here, all sorts of club rooms, IS arenas, IS maintenance rooms, and IS development rooms. But today, I won't be able to go to them, and it's not like I won't be able to visit them another day. Therefore, I may as well rest for today. Finally, I will be able to get away from the girls' prying eyes.
"Ho—..."
Watching Chifuyu-nee and Yamada-sensei as they walked out of the classroom, I sighed as I stood up. I could still hear the ruckus coming from both inside and outside the classroom, but today, I won't worry about it anymore. It'll better to be in my dorm than here.
"Hm~?, it's here, right? Room 1025."
I confirmed the room number and was about to insert the key. Eh, that's strange? The door was unlocked.
*Kacha*.
I entered the room, I saw 2 large beds, arranged side by side. I dare to bet that even a commercial hotel would not be able to compare to it. Just by looking at them it made me feel all light and fluffy. This should be the difference in level. Long live our country.
Temporarily tossing my luggage onto the floor beside the bed, I immediately leapt at it...ohhh, how soft. These are definitely high-priced beds and quilts.
"Is anyone there?"
Suddenly, a voice came from inside. Maybe since the door was blocking it, the voice sounded a bit deep. Speaking of which, every room should have a bathroom, right? –Hm?
"Ahh, you're my roommate, right? Please take care of me from this year on."
—I had a bad feeling about this, this uneasy feeling trickled up my legs.
"I was using the shower, so I'm sorry for looking like this. My name is Shinonono—"
"—Houki...?"
The one who came out from the bathroom was my childhood friend, who I had completed my reunion with.
She had just finished showering, and now walked out of the bathroom. Seems like the bathroom is constructed to be both a shower and a changing room. And without confirming that the other person's a girl, Houki walked out with only a towel wrapped around her. Ah, it's not a ponytail.
The small surface area of the towel could mean several things. Below the edges were the naked and tender thighs; and seemingly indicating that she just showered, the water droplets... skirted down her legs. Healthy white skin is a real eye-opener.
Above that is the slender body that had been rigorously trained, and I could see it even though she had a towel on. It really made my heart race, and thus I'm really weak toward women with unique curves.
Pressing a hand in front of her chest, the large breasts behind her towel were lifted up. No matter what, the last time I saw her body was during swimming lessons in 4th grade, and it didn't really leave me with much of an impression. To think that Houki would choose to wear thin clothing—the above 0.3 seconds of thought was over.
"..."
Houki was shocked. I was too. The all-Japan's most shocked person tournament had begun.
"I-I-Ichika..."
"Oh-, mm..."
I made a definite reply, and Houki's face became extremely red. Basically, this should happen when two people of opposite genders are face to face with each other after a bath, right? Even I would be rather troubled with how to react and handle a situation like this.
"...? Do-Don't look!"
"So-Sorry!"
I frantically turned my head aside and looked away. From the image I managed to see from the corner of my eye, Houki tightly wrapped the towel around herself, as if she was trying to hide her body (or protect it)...the cleavage of her breasts, that was obvious due to the movements of her arms. This made my heart race even faster.
"Wh-Wh-Why, are, you, here...?"
Houki stiffly asked, and it sounded like gears clattering with one another.
"Well, I'm also staying her—"
Out of the corner of my eye, she took action. Extremely fast, as expected of the champion of the National Kendo competition. Houki grabbed the bokken beside the wall, whirled it around and quickly thrust it forward. She lowered her body and instantly decreased the distance between us –I'm about to die!
"Uootsuge!" (sound effect)
I jumped down from the bed and retreated towards the door.
*Pada!*
I managed to escape outside the room in the nick of time. The inertia created by the joints threw me forward.
"Saved—"
*Chi Dong!* The sound of the door splitting could be heard.
The bokken broke through beside my head, the tip missing me barely by 2mm. Hey, this is a wooden door. To be able to stab a bokken through a wooden door, what kind of skill is this?
*Ci* *ci* *ci*...the blade sank back through the door. Ho, so she's letting me off?
*Ci Dong!* The sound of the wooden door exploding could be heard again.
"Are you really trying to kill me? I'd be dead if I didn't dodge that!"
A sudden barrage of attacks had stabbed through where my head was a few moments ago.
"...What? What?"
"Ah, it's Orimura-kun!"
"Huh—, so Orimura-kun lives in this room? That's a good piece of information~~!"
With all the commotion that was caused, the girls started to emerge from their rooms."
Also, what's troubling is that they're all in simple nightgowns, completely oblivious to a guy seeing them in it. Some of them had taken it a step further, wearing only a shirt, and not wearing pants or skirts. Instead, I could see white inverted triangles. And also, some of them were wearing blouses, and I could see flesh-colored chests...girls, should you really be revealing your underwear so casually? In more ways than one, is this really alright?
"...Houki, Houki-san, please let me in. It's going to turn out badly. I'll apologize, so please, I'm begging you like this."
I clapped my hands together and lift them above my head. I must pass these feelings over.
"..."
The only response I got from inside is silence. However, the bokken was pulled back. I sincerely hope that there wouldn't be a third attack.
Silence...
After that, it was silent for about 2, 3 minutes, but to me, it felt like an hour.
*Ka cha*.
"...Come in."
"Woah, oh."
The door opened, and Houki's wearing kendo attire. Looks like this was the only clothes she could put on quickly. Truthfully, since she was hasty in wearing it, she didn't manage to tie her belt properly.
Either way, I was granted permission to enter, and entered my room... eh? There's something strange about that, right?
"What now?"
A fierce glare. I was glared at. Sorry, I didn't do anything wrong.
Houki sat down on the bed. Ah, oh dear, she wants to deal with me inside.
"..."
Looking rather angry, Houki quickly tied her wet hair back into a ponytail. Hm, it's the Houki that I knew, at least that's what she seemed like from the outside.
"So, you said that you're my roommate?"
"Oh, yeah, it seems so."
I was glared at. This girl, her eyes were as sharp as bamboo. Really alert and piercing.
"What-, what's your purpose?"
"Huh?"
"I'm asking what you were thinking? Boys and girls can't share the same bed after they turn 7, it's common sense!"
What era was that from? Even though it's not the same bed, for 15 year old males and females to be living together... err... living together might be problematic.
"Wa, wa, wa...!"
"Wa?"
"Was it because you asked for this...? To be in my room..."
"That's stupid."
Why would I purposely risk my life and choose something like this? Besides, I did not.
—However, it seemed that I had failed with my answer, for if I had not, the bokken wouldn't be flying toward me.
"That-!, that was close!"
A close call. It's really a close call situation that I had blocked the bokken, and there would be a fatality if it had hit. From a certain manner of speech, it's now an empty-handed vs. katana situation. Even though it's a bokken, my palms were hurting. Because there's no way that the assault's strength could be canceled.
"Stupid... you're saying that's stupid? So it's like that huh, like that..."
Ah, her expression was scary. Very scary. Even though she says that she's a childhood friend, but in fact she's a member of a secret organization, a code-named assassin, tasked with executing a certain assignment.
Even though the wooden sword had been blocked by me, Houki was still continuing to exert pressure on the sword. Not good, this is going to be complicated. It isn't a real sword, so it can't cut me to death, but if this weight hit my head, I'd be knocked out. The worst scenario would be my skull splitting in two. No, it can't end like this.
"..."
No, I withdraw my previous statements. The Houki standing before me is already a reaper, so even though it isn't a real sword it can still split me into two parts. Also, if you add to the fact that she had been using her own weight from the beginning to force the sword down, it means that right now the situation looks as if Houki is forcing me down ——
"Waaah... Shinonono-san, very bold"
"You shouldn't take the lead."
"The way Orimura-kun is getting it isn't bad either..."
Hey, what's the meaning of that last comment. Also, five faces were peeking in from outside the open door, there was probably over five times as many in the corridor, also watching what was going on inside the room.
"Wh-wh-wha...?
Houki, greatly surprised, immediately got off my body. I'm saved. My life is preserved.
"Ah, it's already finished?"
"The feeling obviously wasn't bad—"
Hey. Do high school girls nowadays say 'the feeling wasn't bad' when they see a murder scene? Please remember. In a few moments you'll see me giving your e-mail addresses to Gotanda.
".........!"
Houki quietly chased the girls out, and whole-heartedly closed the door. As if entering a scene of murder. It looks like establishing a fictional setting was the highest priority. Though, what about the alibi? No, wait a moment, it's only that I didn't think about it, maybe that girl has some assurance, and she'll be protected. What's that? That way the victim could disappear. What a scary world.
"...Ichika..."
"Yes, what is it?"
I am facing death, without entanglement. Ah, humans arriving to this point are unimpeded.
"What's with your face..."
"?"
Wasn't it like this when I was born?
"Nothing, that, about the situation right now?"
Ah, how I will be executed. You know, Houki, the problem with murder isn't what's before, but after. The human body is composed of slightly over 50kg of lipids (fat) and proteins. It also includes about more than 10L of blood. After that are the neglected bones in the skeleton. In fact, the discomposure of the upper part of the skeleton is quicker. Isn't it different from what we think? That is why most people are puzzled. For the analysis of the skeleton a considerable amount of experience is needed, and if you do it one by one, a lot of time will be wasted. That's when the freezer comes in to play. The freezer...
"Are you listening, Ichika?"
"Uh-, uh!? What!? No I'm not!?"
"Is there someone who would actually say that he isn't, stupid..."
She sighed, as if she were resigning, seemingly amazed. Hmm, it seems that I did something wrong. Considerable amount of guilt. So I didn't feel comfortable. But if I run away I wouldn't be a man.
"So-Sorry, can you tell me again..."
Someone who acknowledges their own faults needs to lower their head. It's common sense everywhere in the world.
——Even though I don't think like that, but in front of an angry individual, one ought to acknowledge their faults first. That way the world could grow in harmony.
"That-, that's why. To be placed in this room... that-, what. That means that drawing a line in the aspect of living is needed..."
The voice was indistinct at first, but she said the latter half forcefully. Say, why is Houki looking very uncomfortable? It's probably psychological, her cheeks are also red... a fever?
"First is the bathing schedule. Mine is from seven o'clock to eight. Ichika is from eight to nine."
"Uhm, isn't it better if mine is earlier..."
"Do you want me to wait with my body drenched by sweat from my club activities!?"
"Club activities, is it the kendo club?"
"Ye-Yeah."
"Weird. Doesn't the club have showers?"
"I-, I don't feel easy if it's not in my own room!"
Uh, if you say it like that then I can't object to it. I also think that the washroom at home is better than the ones at school.
"Oh? Speaking of which, there's no toilet in our private rooms right?"
"Yeah, there are only two at either end of each floor."
"That means, there aren't any men's bathrooms?"
I just thought about this problem merely by chance. But it's really like this, from the IS academy's foundation there were only girls, so there wasn't any reason to make a men's bathroom.
"......"
"Eh, that, what should I do?"
"I don't know! Can't you just ask a teacher?"
Even if you say it like that, but in the worst case——
"In the worst case, only the women's bathroom can be used...?"
A killing intent suddenly burst forth, and I immediately turned around. To only see, Houki again holding her sword. She points at me with her bokken, conveying an aura of a reaper.
"You, you, we haven't seen each other for a long time, and you've engaged in these perverted interests... I've misjudged you!"
"Hey!? Why would I become what you said, Houki!"
"Isn't it obvious! Wanting to go into the women's bathroom, if you're not a pervert then what else could you be!? Hum, I'll execute you right now!"
"Like I'd let you!"
For the time being I found a shinai at the edge of her luggage. It was near Houki's personal things, stacked by her suitcase.
(I need to use the shinai well... you, in the past you didn't need me nagging)
If the bokken and the shinai cross, the shinai could break. Anyway I'll just be holding the shinai until Houki calms down. With that thought I pulled out the sword.
(Hmm? It seems like there's something blocking the shinai preventing it from being pulled out)
*Shaa*.
"Aaaaaahhhhh!?"
Finally I pulled out the shinai, and confronted Houki while keeping a reasonable distance between us.
"?"
In front of the shinai, Houki's mouth was opening and closing like a goldfish. Panicking and looking freaked out.
