Infinite Stratos - Volume 2, page 5
"Ggggrrr....!"
"Kkkkkkk...!"
Seems like this is a Battle Royale--anyway, it doesn't look like they have a good relationship anyway.
What should I say? Both of them have their own ideas that are pretty random. Anyway, I just can't watch this further. I can hear the 'representative candidates with their personal suits' stock drop drastically. However, the most heartless thing seems to be that there's doesn't seem to be a limit in the drop.
In the end, both of them continued to glare at each other until the girls of class one and class two started to chuckle.
"Okay now, everyone should understand the ability of the teachers now. From now onwards, please show some respect to the staff members."
Chifuyu-nee clapped twice to divert everyone's attention.
"The ones with personal frames are Orimura, Alcott, Dunois, Bodewig, and Rin. Then, we'll be dividing the class into groups of 8. Personal machine users will act as leaders, got that? Split up now."
The instant Chifuyu-nee finished, the 2 classes of girls rush over to Charles and me.
"Orimura-kun, let's work hard together!"
"Teach me what I don't know~"
"Dunois-kun, please show me your piloting skills."
"Hey, hey, can I join in too? Let me join you too!"
...What can I say? The reaction's a lot stronger than what I expected, and Charles and I don't know how to respond as we could only stand about.
Either because she couldn't stand this situation or 'cause she's angry that she didn't foresee this, Chifuyu-nee pressed onto her forehead with her fingers, feeling really bothered as she bellows,
"These idiots...EVERYONE SORT OUT ACCORDING TO SEATING ARRANGEMENTS! GROUP LEADER ORDER WILL BE AS DESCRIBED. IF YOU DON'T GET SORTED INTO GROUPS FAST, YOU PEOPLE WILL CARRY IS MACHINES AND RUN AROUND THE FIELD 100 TIMES!"
Is that an Authoritarian's roar? The girls who were surrounding us like ants all moved quickly and managed to get into their groups within 2 minutes.
"I should have done this from the beginning. Really, they're a bunch of idiots."
"...That's great. I'm in the same group as Orimura-kun! I'm really grateful for my own surname..."
"...Sigh--, it's Cecilia...she just lost so badly..."
"...I'll be in your care, Rin-san. Please tell me more about Orimura-kun..."
"...Dunois-kun! You can ask me about anything you don't know! Also, I'm still single!..."
"..."
On a side note, the group that isn't saying anything is the group of that German transfer student Laura Bodewig.
The tense atmosphere, the presence that refuses to work with others, the cold stare-down on the other students, and the mouth that never spoke since the beginning.
Facing such an iron wall, even those pure-hearted 10+ girls wouldn't even dare to talk to her. Everyone's just lowering their heads and forced to remain silent...ahh, I really feel sorry for them...
"Then, please listen up. Each group is to take one training suit. There are 3 Uchigane and 2 Revives, so each group, please decide on the type of frame you like the most. Ah, it's first comes first served--"
Yamada-sensei's even more reliable by 3 times--no, 5 times now. The mock battle just now got her confidence back, right? As her attitude's really proper, so just removing her glasses alone seem to make her a 'really capable woman'.
However, what's proper isn't just her attitude. The breasts that girls who are in their teens don't have are now exposed. Yamada-sensei has a habit of adjusting her glasses, and every time she does this, the breasts that seem to be called out will touch her elbows--and the heavy sweet fruits will jingle.
"..."
*CRACK!*
"OW! WHA...WHAT WAS THAT?"
My foot got stamped on, and at the back of my ankles. It's one thing to be attacked on the back like that, it's another to be attacked at a perfect angle, causing me to cry out in pain.
Who, who did that? The only one who would do something like this is...
"What are you staring intently at? Hurry up and start!"
"Yes, Houki..."
"What?"
Wah. She's really angry now. This isn't good.
--Speaking of which, we're in the same group? If that's the case, I have to use this chance to repair our relationship. Due to many reasons, we haven't spoken to each other properly for a week. If this keeps up, I feel that we can't even call each other by our names.
(Okay, time to show my friendliness--)
"Orimura-kun, teach me how to pilot an IS!"
"Aa--n, this IS is really heavy. I never lifted anything heavier than chopsticks."
"I remember that the practical lessons require 2 people in a group. Orimura-kun, let's go."
"Hey, hey, it's great to have a personal IS, right? I'm so envious of you people--"
Just when I wanted to talk to Houki, the girls in my group took the opportunity to surround me, and besides, since I'm the group leader, I can't just say okay to everyone. Things have gotten a lot complicated.
"W-Well, everyone, please listen to m..."
"Every leader is to assist each group member in putting on the suit. As everyone needs to use it, we removed the optimizing and personalizing modes. Anyway, before lunch today, everyone please practice on the initializing."
On the IS broadcast channel, Yamada-sensei's voice can be heard. As it's already past the lesson phase, right now, I still have some aspects that I don't understand. And besides, I'm the group leader. It'll be bad if I mess up.
"So then, please queue up in order of your student number. Practice your walking. The first one--"
"Register no. 1! Aikawa Kiyoka of the Handball club! My hobbies are watching sports and jogging!"
"O-Okay, but you didn't need to do a self-introduction..."
"Nice to meet you!"
She bowed deeply and extends her right hand out. Hm? What? Does she want to shake hands with me?
"Aa, that's too sneaky!"
"I wanna do that as well!"
"Please make a choice based on your first impression!"
For some reason, all the other girls are lined up and bow politely like her, extending out their right hands.
"Wh-What's going on? I don't really understand--"
"""Please take care of us!"""
...At this moment, another few voices can be heard from behind.
Turning around to look, I see a row of people bowing in front of Charles, each waiting to shake hands with him. He sure looks troubled.
"Er, erm...?"
I can see him all confused here. That's a coincidence, I am too.
"""OW OW OW!!!"""
It's a chorus of perfectly timed cries. I guess it's easy to knock them on the heads as they're lined up, right? As Charles's girls are rubbing their heads and looking up, they all seem to realize who's the Asura in front of them.
"It's great that you people have that much enthusiasm. If that's the case, let me see your performance. Who's first?"
"Ah, no, that's..."
"We, we'll just have Dunois-kun teaching us~...that's all."
"How, how can we let sensei trouble herself..."
"Is there a problem? There's no need to be so polite. To all you prospects, I must give you a certain level of training...ahh, let's start by seating arrangement."
I seem to hear a gasp. Let me put my hands together, if you survive, we may meet one day.
Seeing the terrible state that befallen Charles's group of girls, the fear struck Orimura's group, and they naturally fell in line. Right now, Aikawa-san's opening the exterior of the IS controls to confirm the values. Let me add on, our group's training suit is [Uchigane].
"Oh well, let's begin. Aikawa-san, you should have taken an IS a few times, right?"
"Ah, yes, but only during lessons."
"Then there should be no problems. Anyway, please suit up and try to activate it. If we exceed the time, we have to stay behind after school."
"The-then that would be bad! Okay, I'll do this seriously!"
Though it does sound like she wasn't serious up till now, in this situation, I'll just close one eye. We hate sin, not humans, and our past mistakes aren't related to our future...huh, who said that?
Anyway, there's no problem with the suit up, initializing and walking, and the practice went by smoothly.
--Logically, that should be the case, but when the second person suited up, there was a small problem.
"I'm sorry, but, I can't reach the cockpit..."
"Ah! Aa~..."
Damn it, it's over. I forgot everything since I had my own personal machine--while using a training suit, we have to kneel down to get out. If we stand up to remove it, the IS will naturally be in a standing position.
"What's wrong?"
Ohh, Yamada-sensei appears! As she removed her IS already, she's wearing the busty IS suit--so naturally, I can only look away awkwardly.
"The, that, I forgot the instruct to leave the IS bent down..."
"Ah--so you mean that the cockpit is at a high position, right? If that's the case, it can't be helped; Orimura-kun, please escort her up there."
"...Huh?"
"Wh-What?"
"Huuh~ How lucky-!"
Let me add on, in order, the people who spoke that were me, Houki and the 2nd person (sorry, I forgot the name).
"Because that's the easiest way. Orimura-kun, please summon [Byakushiki]."
"Oh, okay..."
Like how she instructed, I deployed [Byakushiki] and suited up. The more-than-one month's training wasn't for show, as I could immediately summon it now.
"Then, please carry Kishisato-san up."
"Huh? No, that--"
"Wh-Why?"
Ohh! Houki jumped in! Nice going! Do your best! I don't know her personal reasons, but I'm a healthy male after all, so obviously I would try to avoid contact with girls. Besides, there would be trouble if something happens.
"Since the IS can fly, if he just needs to send her into the cockpit, this would be the most suitable method."
"There's no need to do that. Just let him be a stepping board!"
That's right, that's right--huh? A stepping board?
"A stepping board? Huh, may I ask who you want to act as one?"
"Of course it's Ichika!"
What's with that 'of course'?
"Hold, hold on a minute. If I have to become a stepping board, I rather send her up. That's safer."
"Yeah, it's a lot safer."
"Che--whatever!"
Ahh-...I seem to have made her angry. Houki just turned her back at me and walked away.
"Then Orimura-kun, please carry me up over there!"
Though I'm unwilling, it can't be helped. Since it's just this one time, I guess it's alright.
"Oh yes, Orimura-kun? You weren't looking at sensei just now. This won't do! We don't have to look at each other in the eyes all the time, but once you enter society, such a response can be seen as rude, so please take note of that."
"Ah, that's..."
"You see? You're doing it again! You must look at me straight on."
Maybe the battle just now increased her confidence, as Yamada-sensei grabbed my shoulder with an unimaginable force and turned me over.
And because she used both hands to pull me, the huge breasts that are stuck between the shoulders are even more ample.
"Ya-Yamada-sensei, please listen to me..."
Damn it, I can even tell that my body's heating up.
However, all my hopes in her to understand a boy's innocent feelings were crushed, as it seems like not even a third of those feelings were passed while Yamada-sensei pulled me even forcefully.
"Look over here, Orimura-kun!"
As she used force, the ample breasts that were crampled between her shoulders started to shake. To be honest, for this 15 year old healthy boy, it was really mesmerizing--or rather, I should say, one poisonous scene.
"Sensei, Orimura-kun doesn't know what to do~"
"Ya ya, that's a low blow, emphasizing on the breasts like that."
"Br-Breasts...!?"
At this moment, finally figuring out where the problem lies at last, Yamada-sensei stares at her own breasts, and then at my face.
"~~!?"
Yamada-sensei seems to back away from me quickly as she frantically covers her own body.
"Wha, that..."
I really want to change this invincibly awkward atmosphere, but I don't really know what to say--'your breasts are superb'...I'm an idiot. I'd get sued for sexual harassment.
"O-Orimura-kun."
With her back facing me, Yamada-sensei turned her face over at me. She sounds really shy as her face is blushing red.
"Th-That...you saw that?"
"Huh, about that...yes."
Even though I told myself not to look, not to look, not to look, I still more or less saw it. As lies will raise a few eyebrows, I honestly admitted it. However, on hearing my answer, Yamada-sensei's ears went red as well.
"Th-That, even though age and gender can't be helped, this isn't good. Besides, we have many problems in regards to age differences and standpoints...personally, I'm happy that I can make you aware of this, but it's still--"
"Yamada-sensei...would you mind telling me what you're doing..."
Chifuyu-nee has a hand supporting her head as she said that. Does she have a headache? That's tough on her.
"O-Orimura-sensei!? No, I-I'm, this...!"
"Sigh...I'll listen to your explanation. Right now, the main point is that Bodewig's group is extremely slow, so please go over to help them."
"O-Okay!"
Yamada-sensei stood up and ran towards Laura's group. On the way there, she glances back, just so happens to meet me in the eyes, and start to blush again.
"What..."
"Hurry up and practice, you idiot. The next slowest group will be yours, Orimura."
Ahh, I got scolded by the instructor from hell. Is that my fault...I guess so.
"Then let's hurry up!"
"Hiyaaa!!?"
Anyway, I followed the instructions and carried Kishisato-san up. However, she let out a strange sound--hold on, hold on, I didn't touch her in anyplace weird.
"O-Orimura-kun's really forceful..."
No, that's because we have so little time left. Speaking of which, girls are really light! Why's that so? That was easy. It wasn't easy the last time I carried up the fainted Gotanda. He was so heavy that I almost thought of dumping him on the road. But of course, I did send him to the infirmary properly--oh well, that's not important.
"Hold on tight or you'll drop."
"O-Okay..."
After confirming that Kishisato-san's grabbing onto my shoulder with slightly trembling hands, I slowly raised her up. However, the height's about only 1m, so it's not that dangerous.
However, the IS training frames are basically maintained in deployed form. Thus, one has to lean back on top to seat in. Thus, it's still dangerous even if it's not too high.
I take care not to drop Kishisato-san as I carry her to the Uchigane's cockpit.
"Then, move your back in and raise your body up. Also, it's better to put your hand on the armor there. Do you understand?"
"I, I'm okay."
As I haven't let go of her yet, our conversation was held in a rather tight position. She's still mindful about being touched by guys, huh? Kishisato-san's eyes are wavering about uncomfortably.
"I'm letting go now. Is this okay?"
"Huh? Th-This..."
"Is there a problem?"
"It's more like I'm in dreamland..."
"?"
While we're talking, the other groups are starting to talk.
"AHHH! WH-WHAT'S THAT!?"
"THAT'S TOO SLY! I WANT TO BE HUGGED!"
"WHY! WHY'S MY REGISTER NUMBER 12? I HATE THE ANCESTOR WHO GAVE ME THIS FAMILY NAME, UNTIL THE END OF TIME!"
No, ancestors should be respected, right? Besides, the end of time would mean your children and grandchildren, so please don't involve them in some strange grudge.
"An-Anyway, I'm okay. Hurry back, Orimura-kun. If this keeps up, I don't know what will happen to me later..."
"Mn, I got it."
I don't know what's going on, but she has some hidden feelings, right? Should be that legend only girls know of. Though I don't know what it is, it's more or less that.
"Try activating it then."
With me prompting, the initiation starts. The opened armor locked up and secured the pilot inside. Then, with a silent initializing sound, the [Uchigane] stood upright.
"Then next--"
◇
(Argh, this is infuriating me!)
Houki folded her arms and shut her eyes as she pretended to look calm. However, her heart was very unstable, and what happened just now was still on her mind.
(And what was that? Was there a need to be so close? Ichika could have just acted as a stepping board. Yes, a stepping board!)
That being said, in actuality, even if that other girl tramples down on Ichika, that wouldn't interest her.
That's because Houki herself is still ambiguous about her own feelings, so even if others are to ask her 'what do you want to do then', she isn't clear about what she wants. That's how the human heart is.
(And he was staring at Yamada-sensei...aahh, such a useless bum!)
To be honest, thanks to kendo training, Houki's still rather confident of her own figure.
Even though she feels burdened by her own breasts, it's good that they can become part of her charm. However--
(He didn't notice it when he was with me...!)
Until when they stopped living together with each other, Ichika's attitude hasn't really changed much, which made her really unhappy.
...However, it's not that Ichika didn't notice it. He just felt that if he showed that he was really troubled by it, Houki would be bothered, so he acted as if he didn't care... Of course, it's not that he would be bothered by everything.
It's also a characteristic of human nature to not be so straightforward.
"Alright, remove the suit now."
While Houki was pondering, the practical training seemed like it was a success, and the second girl finished activating the IS and walking.
"Ah, please remember to bend down and remove it, or else--"
Before Ichika managed to finish, the second girl seem like she just thought of something as she removed the IS while it was still in a standing position.
