Infinite Stratos - Volume 6, page 5
"Haa.... ha..."
The one in that corner and out of breath was Cecilia.
She's making the BITs do a linked high-speed rolling shot in order to make the laser trajectory bend many times over.
But, she hasn't been successful in doing the [Deviate FireBT Flexible] even once, and with each passing time, the fatigue showing on her face was getting more and more obvious.
"......."
Once again, she concentrated her senses, and she took a stance with her BR rifle [Starlight mk III].
Cecilia put the image of water in her mind, and then fired above the balloon.
(-Bend!)
But, Cecilia's effort was in vain. The laser plunged straight ahead, hit the screen shield and dispersed.
"Let's end it here for today..."
Fuu, Cecilia put away her rifle while sighing. The gun barrel in her right hand changed into light particles and disappeared.
".........."
Returning to the waiting room, nothing but gloomy things were showing on that face, only irritation and fatigue could be perceived there.
"[Blue Tears], standby mode."
Shrouded by light, Cecilia's feet slowly touched the ground because of the IS' release PIC.
For the time being, I'll take a hot shower and at least change my mood....
While thinking that, she opened the door of the dressing room.
There, an unexpected person was standing.
"Huh? Cecilia? What are you doing, training?"
"Rin-san..... Well, it's something like that."
For some reason, Cecilia answered with an artificial smile towards Rin, whom she often hung around with.
It was different from just a display, it could be said that it was an action born from her pride.
Whether she knew about thoughtfulness toward someone she considered her equal or not, Rin smoothly let it slide and continued the conversation.
"I am going to do deployment training for the new equipment model starting now. Actually, I wanted to use arena no.6. Unfortunately, it was completely booked."
"New equipment model, is it the high speed package as expected?"
"Fufun, that's right. Just wait for it, Cecilia. Let's fight a good match on the appointed day."
"Yeah. I'll hold you to that."
Receiving the finger pointing of her rival, Cecilia's fighting spirit was burning.
Rin's 'throwing a written challenge'-like attitude could have been because she felt Cecilia's mental fatigue. Rin has always been sharp in noticing the subtleties of other people's feelings.
"Then, see you."
"Yeah, see you."
Rin waved her hand, and Cecilia returned it, not with an artificial smile, but with a genuine one, and then they passed each other.
I won't lose. Not to anyone in the academy!
Cecilia, her feelings renewed, entered the dressing room with quick steps.
♦
"Is there anything that catches your interest?"
"Uuunnnn...."
Gazing at the display in the clock shop, I let out a groan.
It can't be helped that I don't know which one to choose, I don't understand which one is good and which one isn't.
Even if I want to choose based solely on the design, somehow there's nothing that could intuitively catch my interest; That was my honest thought.
But, since it's a birthday present from Charl, I want to choose it firmly.
"We are also selling these watches here, how about it?"
"Ah, no, that one is a little..."
"Is that so."
The male clerk was also troubled by his inability to grasp my taste. ......Not good, not good. I have to do something.
"By the way, Ran, do you have any wristwatch?"
"Huh!? Well, that's...."
"Hm?"
"I don't have one..... I, I thought that the watch on my cellphone should be enough or something."
"Right."
While I nodded in response to Ran's words, Charl put both her hands on her hips and made a scolding pose.
"Jeez, that's not good you know. You two, especially Ran-chan since you're a girl, should be more stylish."
"O-Okay."
Which reminds me, Charl is adding a chan when speaking to the younger Ran. Ran is also adding san when calling Charlotte. It seems the seniority relation has already been created between the two of them.
"But, that's, a wristwatch seems to be something that can't be bought just using pocket money..."
"Ah, is that so. Representative candidate student's standing in general is something close to a government worker for a country, that's why we get an allowance."
"I-Is that so?"
That´s something that is very enviable.
"Yes. Ichika is still not a candidate student, right?"
"A-, yeah. Somehow the deliberation at the international IS facility has been prolonged."
"Fuun. Even so, it sure is taking a long time."
"Isn't it."
There has been no further progress even though it's already September. Just as I thought, being the world's only IS male pilot is the problem.
Probably, [Byakushiki], in the production of which Tabane-san got directly involved, might also be one of the reasons.
It's something like applying pressure so as to not let the latest technology get monopolized by Japan. It's seriously troubling, isn't it?
"At any rate, if we stay like this, it doesn't seem like we will decide on a wristwatch anytime soon, would we."
Charl returned the topic of the conversation to wristwatches. I really started to feel bad for the troubled clerk.
"That's right isn't it. Uuuun-..."
"T-Then, how about I choose one that I think would suit Ichika the most?"
"Ooo, that sounds like a good idea. Since Charl seems to have a very good fashion sense too."
"I-Is that so? Thank you. Then, I'll choose now."
"......"
Charl's expression was shining, while in contrast, a little worry was surfacing on Ran's.
Why is that I wonder?
Worried about Ran's gestures, Charl called out to her.
"Ran-chan, let's choose together. This is a rare opportunity too."
"Huh, ah, yes!"
"No need to worry about the price."
"Yes!"
"H-Hey hey! I will be the one who's troubled if it's too expensive."
"Fufu, why is Ichika the one worrying? You're the recipient, right?"
"No, well, it might be like that...but you usually hesitate when wearing an expensive watch right?"
"Then, I'll choose one that a high-school student can afford from a part-time job salary. Is that okay?"
"Well, I guess.... Ah, but, I'll make sure to give a return gift that more or less costs the same on Charl's birthday too."
"Nn. Thank you."
"Of course I will give a birthday present for Ran too."
"O-Okay! Thank you very much!"
After that, Charl and Ran took about 20 minutes to choose my birthday present. They brought a wristwatch to show me.
"What do you think about this one?"
It was a metal wristwatch that was white-based in color with golden-colored inlays. The golden white radiance is very pretty.
"I think it will suit Ichika better than a silver-colored one. See, the gauntlet on your right hand is also white colored, right?"
Hearing those words, I rolled my right sleeve.
The IS [Byakushiki]'s standby mode is a white bracer on my right wrist which fits very nicely with the wristwatch.
"It certainly looks that way. White style on both hands, huh?"
"I thought so, it looks great! Really!"
"Alright. Thanks for helping to choose it, Ran."
"N-Not at all! This kind of thing is just, a, a piece of cake!"
Ran was saying that, but unfortunately the watch was pointing at 12 o'clock. It was already the time for lunch.
*Guuu!* Her stomach was growling. Ran's face became completely red.
"Haha. Let's go to a restaurant somewhere."
"Y-Yes.... I'm sorry...."
Ran was blushing to her ears, which for some reason looked cute, and I ended up patting her head.
Charl hurriedly went to ask the clerk to wrap the wristwatch.
"Charl, where should we have lunch?"
"Uuunn, I wonder where."
"What about Ran? Is there anything you want to eat? I'll treat you."
"N-No! I'll pay my own share at least!"
"Don't say that. Ah, how about the outdoor café there?"
"Ah, isn't that place quite expensive though?"
"That's why I said I'll treat you. Ah, or could it be that you have eaten there before?"
"O-Only for drinks...."
"Alright, then it's decided. Let's have lunch there."
"O-Okay. Thank you very much."
Ran was still looking at her feet while playing with her fingers. She seemed a little uncomfortable and her face was red.
Somehow, it seemed like she's extremely embarrassed about her stomach growling earlier. It almost feels like I've done something bad.
"Okay then, let's go."
"Alright."
Charl, who had just received the merchandise earlier, led us to the outdoor cafe.
Ran and I followed her and entered the store.
"Heee, this place is really stylish isn't it. Today weather's is just right too, so the location is excellent."
Charl, whose hair is being brushed gently by the wind, smiled. That figure, which really looked like that of the daughter of a noble, somehow took me aback for a moment.
"Welcome."
"Ah, what is Today's Lunch Menu?"
"It's crab-cream spaghetti for today's main course, along with a pear tart for desert."
"Then, we'll order 3 of those."
"Thank you for ordering."
After that exchange of words, the waiter left.
I suddenly realized, Charl and Ran were fixedly staring at me.
"W-What is it?"
"No, well, it seems you're very well trained at this."
"No way, this much is just normal. I didn't eat out that much, so Chifuyu-nee told me to be able to order at least this smoothly."
"Fuuun."
"A, um, could it be that Ichika-san often comes to this kind of store?"
"Nope, I rarely dine outside. Ah, but I do eat at Ran's house, don't I?"
"Please don't put a set-meal store like ours in the same boat..."
"Why is that? It's not something to be embarrassed about, right? Gotanda set meal is delicious isn't it."
"That name alone is detestable enough for me...."
Well well, a teenage maiden's line of thought is really hard to understand. I thought it was something to be proud about.
"By the way, that's..."
While looking intermittently at Charl, Ran's mouth was mumbling something. It looked like there's something that's hard to say.
"Hmm?"
"I-Ichika-san and Charlotte-san, are you two seeing each other right now!?"
"W...Wha!?"
"H-Hey Hey, what are you saying so suddenly?"
"B-But, that's, it seems you two are getting along so well..."
"That's because we were in the same team during the tag match in the past. Right? Charl."
"Y-Yeah. More or less..."
Could it be that, from the surprise of that sudden remark, Charl's face became bright red while she nodded.
But, today's Ran seems a little weird. I wonder what's wrong.
"....Thank goodness. Not seeing each other yet..."
"Hm?"
"It's nothing!"
While doing some small talk, the lunch came unexpectedly quick.
The waiter brought 3 plates at once. Ooo, Amazing.
"Thank you for waiting."
The waiter said that and lined up the 3 plates. On those crab cream spaghetti, a crab claw was placed at the center of the dish. It really excites your appetite.
Tomato ketchup was entwined on the scattered pasta, and the smell was mouth watering. It made me want to eat it immediately.
"Well then, please enjoy your meal. I'll bring the desert afterwards."
The waiter said that and left our table. We took our utensils, and started to immediately eat our pasta.
"Itadakimasu!"
"Itadakimasu."
"I-Itadakimasu."
I, Charl, and Ran, in that order, put our hands together, then started to eat our crab cream spaghetti.
"Ooo, tasty."
"Yeah. It's written somewhere that this is raw pasta."
"It's delicious."
The free-refill mixed herb tea that is part of the lunch really suits the food too.
Since we're in the middle of eating, the conversation stopped temporarily, as we moved our forks.
Even so, this is really delicious. What do they use to get this kind of secret flavor in the sauce I wonder.
"Hmm? Ran, there's something."
"Yes?"
I took a piece of napkin, and gently wiped Ran's mouth.
"!?""
"There's sauce all over your mouth."
"I-If you had just told me, that's.....I, I would have wiped it myself!"
"I-Is that so. Sorry."
"Ah, no, well, um, it's not that I don't... T-Thank you very much."
Ran's face reddened and she hung her head.
It seems that I don't have enough delicacies towards a girl.[6B 6] I'll reflect on it.
♦
Uwa, uwa, uwawa.....
Ran is replaying the scene from a moment ago while holding her pounding heart with a hand gently placed at her chest.
My mouth was wiped by Ichika-san.....
Even through the cloth, that gentle fingertip's sensation can still be felt on her mouth - or rather her lips.
T-That's no problem is it? I properly put on my lipstick too.... I-It's okay isn't it?
Although it's not like she's seeking confirmation from anybody in particular, Ran repeated that thought many, many times.
She can no longer taste the pasta that she thought was more than delicious enough too.
In a half panicked state, Ran mechanically moved her fork.
Uuu, I was treated to lunch too. Somehow, Ichika-san suddenly feels very adult-like.
Talking about being treated before this, she can only remember canned juice and the shooting game at the game center.
Now that you think about it, Ichika-san was really good at games wasn't he?
She remembered about the shooting game where she quickly got a game over when playing it.
She replayed how she was gazing on Ichika's profile under the pretense of watching the game.
She remembered that his figure, when he accurately defeated the enemy, was really cool, just like that of a main character from a movie.
Even so, to think Charlotte-san is this pretty and cute, on top of that she's also a country's representative candidate... Something like that is really unfair....
Ran, who was planning to take the entrance examination for IS Academy next year, starting from this summer had hurriedly investigated IS related things.
She knew that about 8 or 9 cases out of ten, nation representative candidates who got into IS Academy, were the users of personal IS. She also knew that they were elite of elites.
On the news they also showed that Houki-san recieved a personal IS. Furthermore, they said that her unit was built by Professor Shinonono herself....
-Uuuu. She thought everyone is really unfair.
Ran thought like that, but she didn't seem to realize yet, that her position as the sister of Ichika's best friend's is a big advantage on its own.
"By the way, Ran."
"Y-Yes!?"
"About that Cannonball Fast ticket which I gave you earlier, it seems to coincide with my birthday. So that means the birthday party that is planned at my house could end pretty late. Is that okay?"
"N-No problem! On that day, that stupid... sorry, I mean my brother will also be there!"
"Ah, now that you mention it. He will be there, won't he."
"Y-Yes..."
Then, she realized a big problem there.
"Ah, will the people from IS Academy also come!?"
"W-What's the matter? Of course they plan to come."
"H-How many people will come?"
"Ummm, five people I think?"
"Five people..."
Ran was attacked by something resembling giddiness. Even just Rin, Houki, and Charlotte are already powerful rivals, but to have even more rivals beside those three made her increasingly anxious.
This is bad, this is bad -. For a birthday present, hand-made cakes and small things won't cut it....
Suddenly, her self-confidence vanished.
Ran had some pride on her moderate cooking skills, but in the first place, Ichika is also a good cook. And to add to that, looking at the price of the watch that Charlotte bought earlier, she became bashful.
But but, I can't ask for advance pocket-money at this time, and my school prohibits part-time work too, uuuuu
Thinking about those things, Ran suddenly remembered about Rin.
W-What will Rin-san do I wonder.... If I remember correctly, Rin-san is also a representative candidate. Then, that means she gets military funding, doesn't she.....
Rin and Ran, the two girls who had seen each other as rivals during Ichika's middle school days. It also could have been because of the competition between Japanese and Chinese style food.
Haaa...There are too many rivals....
Ran became a little disheartened.
Unintentionally, the hand she was using for eating stopped moving, and it worried Ichika.
"What's wrong? Are you already full?"
"N-No, that's, no problem! Yeah."
"Is that so. It's okay then. But if you're full already I'll help finish your food."
"T-Thank you very much."
Even though she said that, she became shy with the mention of giving the food that already touched her lips.
Indirect kiss - thinking that could happen, Ran's face once again reddened.
I wonder, has Ichika-san ever kissed anyone...?
Mindful about those things, Ran became increasingly conscious about her mouth being wiped earlier.
Casually moving her hand, when she tried to gently touch her lips, she strangely felt hot.
