Infinite Stratos, Volume 3, page 5
“Why, Ms. Orimura! You’re so strict with him.”
“I learned the hard way.” I didn’t think it was that bad, but there were plenty of reasons I couldn’t really argue with her. Ahh, how I wish I was grown-up and out of her hair...
“Anyway, everyone, let me show you to your rooms. If you’re going to swim, we have a separate beach house for you to change in. Feel free to make use of it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask any of our staff.”
With a chorus of ‘yeses,’ the girls set forth into the resort. It seemed like the plan was to drop our bags off first. Oh, and the first day was completely free time. We could have a meal at the kitchen anytime.
“Hey! Hey, Orimu!” Ugh, no one would be calling me that but Miss Casual. She waved, and walked toward me as sloooowly as ever. She had the expression of someone who’d probably dozed off on the bus. Didn’t seem to have any makeup on, either. “Where’s your room, Orimu? You weren’t on the list. Tell me! I wanna hang out!”
Overhearing her, the other girls gathered around and pushed in to find out for themselves, too. Why did she want to know which room was mine? There was nothing interesting in there. At least, I didn’t think there was.
“Honestly, I don’t know either. Maybe they have me in the hallway.”
“Hey, that sounds fun. Maybe I’ll try it, too. The floor’s probably nice and cool.”
It was summer, so she was right, it might actually be enjoyable. Nah, probably not. Anyway, since it’d be a bad thing if I had any girls sleeping over, my room was somewhere else. At least, that’s what Ms. Yamada said. She didn’t give me any other details.
“Orimura, your room’s this way. Follow me.” Oh, that was Chifuyu calling for me. I couldn’t keep her waiting, so I left Miss Casual with a “Talk to you later.”
“Uh, Ms. Orimura? Where’s my room?”
“Shut up and follow.” No questions allowed, I guess. This place really was nice and spacious, though. Beautiful, too. It was amazing enough that they’d found a place that could fit the entire class, but it was even more impressive that it was somewhere that did such a good job of blending traditional ambiance with modern conveniences. It was great to have working air conditioning. The halls were cool and comfortable.
“Here it is.”
“Eh? But this is...”
A sign reading ‘Faculty’ hung from the door. Um...
“We thought about getting you your own room, but we had no idea how we’d keep the girls away from it at night.” Chifuyu rasped out a sigh. “So you’re staying with me. This way, they won’t have such an easy time of it.”
“Well, that’s true, but...”
No guts, no glory. Though I don’t think anyone would be gutsy enough to risk her for me.
“I shouldn’t need to remind you, but in case I do, I’m still a teacher.”
“Yes, Ms. Orimura.”
“Very well.” With that, she let me into the room. It was quite large for a double room, and the exterior wall was one wide row of windows. The view was a beautiful expanse of sea. It was east-facing, so I was sure the sunrise would look fantastic as well.
“Wow, this is amazing.”
The toilet and bath were separate. Even the sink had its own small room. The spacious tub was huge enough for even a guy to stretch his legs out.
“If you want to use the main baths, you’ve got your own time. They’re usually kept split down the middle, but we’re not exactly an even group. It wouldn’t be fair to cram them all in just for you, so keep it to the time set aside for you. If you want to bathe early in the morning or late at night, use the one in here.”
“Understood.”
Man, even when we were alone together Chifuyu was so focused on her job, but that was how she was. I totally would have just called her Chifuyu earlier if she hadn’t reminded me.
“Anyway, the rest of your day is free. Leave your things here and go do whatever.”
“And you, Ms. Orimura?”
“I have to meet up with the other teachers, check things out, and stuff. But—” Chifuyu coughed, clearing her throat. “I suppose a quick swim wouldn’t hurt anyone. After all, I have the swimsuit my brother picked out to try on.”
“I see.” I gave a disinterested reply, but my heart sped up a little. I was actually really happy that she went with my pick. And how long had it been since I’d seen her in a swimsuit? Hmm...
Knock, knock. A rapping at the door interrupted my chain of thought.
“Do you have a minute, Ms. Orimura?” That voice had to be Ms. Yamada.
“Sure, come in.” Hearing the response, Ms. Yamada opened the door. As she did, she came eye to eye with me, just across from the entrance.
“O-Orimura!”
“You don’t have to be that surprised...” It seemed like she was there for whatever the teachers had to go over. She’d been reading over some paperwork as she stepped into the room. It was only when she looked up that she saw me.
“S-Sorry. I’d forgotten that he was staying in your room.”
“Ms. Yamada, wasn’t it your idea to begin with?”
“Y-Yes. Yes, it was. I’m sorry!” Ms. Yamada shuffled back and forth under Chifuyu’s glare as if it were the gaze of a snake ready to strike.
“Anyway, Orimura, I need to get to work. Go find somewhere else to be.”
“Yes. I think I’ll head straight to the ocean.”
“Try not to overdo it.” One more acknowledgment of her warning, and I was gone. In the light backpack I’d pulled from my luggage, there was my swimsuit, a towel, and a pair of clean underwear. Set sail for the sea, full speed ahead!
◇
“.........”
“.........”
Houki and I happened to bump into each other on the way to the beach house where we could change. There wasn’t anything really strange about that. Especially not compared to the sight that greeted us shortly after.
Smack in the middle of the footpath was a pair of bunny ears. Not, like, the ears of an actual rabbit. Bunny ears. The kind a bunny girl would wear. They were white. Dangling from them was a sign reading ‘pull me.’
“Huh, what’s—”
“Dunno. Don’t ask me. Not my problem.”
Shot down before the question was even out of my mouth. This absolutely had to be her, then. Someone of limitless talent. A genius among geniuses. The woman who claimed to put in 35 hours a day. The inventor of the IS, and Houki’s big sister. This had to be none other than Shinonono Tabane.
“Um... Should I pull them?”
“Do whatever. I don’t care.” Houki stalked off down the path. Hmm, it looked like she still hadn’t patched things up with Tabane. Left alone, I shrugged and gave the ears a swift yank.
Pop.
“Wha—” I’d been convinced Tabane herself was hiding buried under them, but I was wrong. I’d put so much force into it that I fell over. “Oww...”
“What on earth are you doing?”
“Oh, hey, Cecilia. I just found a pair of bunny— Ah.”
I cast my gaze in the direction of her voice. Unfortunately, since I was still on the ground, that meant I was looking straight up her skirt.
“Ichika! What’s gotten into you?!”
Noticing my line of sight, she pressed down on her skirt while backing away. They were white, with lace. Wait, what kind of idiot am I? Why am I paying attention to that?
“Sorry. I, uh. I saw a pair of bunny ears growing, so...”
“So... What?” Cecilia fired back with an incredulous voice. I mean, it made sense. If someone had told me the same thing, I’d be looking at them like... Well, like they’d just grown bunny ears. Oh, and Cecilia’s cheeks were burning red, partly from embarrassment and partly from anger.
“No, I mean, Tabane is—”
Fshoooom!
Huh? It sounded almost like something was swooping down on—whoa!
BA-BOOM! An unidentified flying object pierced the ground. And, of all things, it looked like...
“A... carrot?”
Cecilia and I both gasped. It wasn’t even shaped like a normal carrot, it was shaped like a cutesy drawing of a carrot. What the hell was going on?!
“Hahaha! I can’t believe you pulled that, Icky!”
The carrot split in half, and preceded by her own laugh, the aforementioned genius Shinonono Tabane stepped out. I doubt she had any idea how to make a normal entrance...
“Oh, hey, since I flew here in a missile I almost got shot down by an interceptor! Looks like I learned my lesson about that. Argh, I can’t believe their nerve, though!”
Tabane was wearing a blue and white one piece like Alice’s from ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ She took the bunny ears from my hand and immediately placed them on her head. Alice in Wonderland in one outfit... Her fashion sense was as inscrutable as ever.
“Long time no see, Tabane.”
“Yeah. It’s been forever. Seriously. Hey, Icky, have you seen Houki? I thought you were just with her. Did she have to go pee or something?”
“Um...”
Houki had gone somewhere to avoid Tabane, but I couldn’t exactly tell her that, so I wasn’t sure what to say.
“Well, I can find her with the scouter I invented, easy. See you later, Icky!”
Tabane ran off. Wow, she was fast. It seemed like the scouter she was talking about was those bunny ears, and they perked up in the direction Houki was in like a dowsing rod. Wait, was that how dowsing rods worked?
“Ichika? What was that?”
“Tabane. Houki’s big sister.”
“What? Really? That was the Professor Shinonono?! The one who’s missing and being hunted by several countries?!”
“Yep, that Shinonono Tabane.”
Oh, and the point of this seashore class trip was to allow the wide-area unrestricted operation of IS. So mountains of the latest models were arriving, addressed to the various national cadets. However, since of course piloting by outsiders wasn’t allowed, it seemed that they were being delivered by special landing craft. Except, of course, for Tabane. She dove right in, damn the regulations. What was she really after, anyway?
“Ah, well. She wanted Houki for something. It doesn’t really have anything to do with us. Anyway, I was heading down to the ocean. What about you?”
“Why, of course, I was as well.” Cecilia cleared her throat. Is she trying to imitate Chifuyu? “I can’t exactly put suntan oil on my own back. I don’t suppose I could ask you to do it for me?”
“Mm? Why not get a friend to do it?”
“Well, really, if you wouldn’t mind...”
Jeez, wasn’t she just embarrassed that I saw her panties? Cecilia fidgeted back and forth, trying to avoid eye contact.
“Hmm, why don’t you just pour it down your back instead?”
“No thank you!”
She refused immediately. It was a joke, but it seemed like she took it the wrong way. It’s always scary trying to joke around with girls.
“I was just kidding. Anyway, sure, it’s no big deal.”
“Really? You’re not going to change your mind later or anything?”
Wow, was she really that concerned about burning? I hardly ever saw her that enthusiastic about something. And there I was, not bothering with sunscreen at all.
“Of course not. See you later, then.”
“Very well, then. Later!” Nodding twice, she ran off toward the beach house. She wasn’t as fast as Tabane, but she was still quite fleet of foot.
“I should get going, too.”
It should have been no surprise that I was asked to use the changing stall furthest in. Oh, and they weren’t kidding when they called it a beach house. It opened right up onto the sand. That said, the changing stall furthest in meant that I had to walk by everyone else’s on the way. Of course I wasn’t able to see inside, but it was still awkward hearing the high-pitched voices from behind the curtains.
“Wow, Mika, your breasts are so big. Have they been growing lately?”
“Eek! Don’t touch them!”
“Tina, your swimsuit is so daring! I can’t believe you’re wearing that in public.”
“Really? This is about normal in America.”
Ah, the things you overhear... Honestly, I couldn’t really deal with it. It was kind of embarrassing, though I wasn’t quite sure why. Walking swiftly, I made my way to the boys’ changing stall. Dressing was quick for men. By the time I’d decided what order to do my warmup exercises in, I was done. Big blue sea, here I come!
“Oh, it’s Orimura!”
“No way! Already?! My swimsuit isn’t too weird, is it? It’ll be fine, right?”
“Oh wow! He looks great! He’s so cut!”
“Orimura! Let’s play some volleyball later!” a girl cried out to me.
“Sure, if I have time.”
Just barely out of the stall, I ran into a few of the girls who must have been using the neighboring ones. Their swimsuits were all cute, if a little bit awkwardly revealing. Eventually... I took my first step onto the sand, and in the same moment, the sand on which the July sun pounded down scorched the soles of my feet.
“Ow, that’s hot!”
It’d been many years since I’d been to the sea, and the sensation was nostalgic, even enjoyable. Yes, it wouldn’t be the sea without this. Tiptoeing across the dunes, I made my way to the water’s edge. The beach was already full of girls, some tanning, some playing volleyball, and some already swimming. Their swimsuits were a rainbow of colors, and shone brighter than the July sun in their own way.
“All right.” I started on my warmups. It’d been so long since I’d been to the sea, it’d be a shame if I got a leg cramp and drowned. “Okay, stretch my arms, stretch my legs, stretch my back!”
“I-chi-ka!”
Huh? Wait— What?!
“Why’re you taking this so seriously? I mean, really, warmups for a swim? Hurry it up, I wanna get in the water!” Rin suddenly leapt onto me. Be it middle school or even in elementary school, put her in a swimsuit and she’d do this kind of thing. Just like a cat. Oh, and her swimsuit was a sporty tankini. It had orange and white stripes, and the top was cut high enough to show off her belly button.
“C’mon, do your warmups. I don’t want you drowning.”
“I’m not gonna drown. I think I was a mermaid in a past life.”
As we argued, she clambered up onto my shoulders. Mermaid? More like a cat, or maybe a monkey. Oh, and did you know, the first drawings of merpeople were actually mermen?
“I’m up so high! I can see forever! You make a great watchtower, Ichika.”
You’re welcome. I was just thinking about how I needed a job. Maybe this would work. Wait, not like this!
“Watchtower? Not even lookout?”
“What’s wrong with that? It’s useful, isn’t it?”
“And who’s gonna climb me every day, then?”
“Hmm... Me?” Rin answered with a chuckle. Ugh, what’s gotten into her?
“Ah, ahh, ahhh! What on earth are you doing?” Cecilia arrived with a question. She held a beach umbrella and towel, as well as a bottle of tanning oil. Hers was a vivid blue bikini. The sarong wrapped around her hips added a touch of class. Honestly, she looked like a model. The emphasis her swimsuit placed on her swelling breasts was more provocative than I’d expected, and I struggled to make eye contact.
“Riding his shoulders, duh. Or if you’d rather, we’re playing watchtower.”
“I’ve never heard of that game.”
“Well, what else could it be? I’m not qualified as a life preserver.”
“I... I can’t argue with that.”
“Like, totally. I mean, if someone was drowning, I’d try to help them, but...”
“Stop ignoring me, you two!”
Huh, that ended up being a completely vertical conversation. Oh, and as for why I was fine with Rin perching on me like this—well, I’d never tell her this to her face, but it was because she had no breasts. Also, she’d been doing it since elementary school, so I was just used to it.
“Anyway! Rin, get down from there!”
“I don’t wanna.”
“Why are you acting like such a child?!” Cecilia planted her umbrella in the sand with an audible crunch. No need to get so heated Cecilia, leave it to the sun instead.
“What’s going on? Is there a fight or something?”
“Hey, wait! Someone’s riding on Ichika’s shoulders!”
“Ooh! I wish it was me!”
“Let’s take turns!”
“First come, first served!”
A crowd of chattering girls had gathered, under the mistaken impression that I’d give them a shoulder ride. Oh, no... This wasn’t good. I wouldn’t be able to handle that many. Not physically, not mentally, and not as a man.
“Rin. Could you get down before anyone else gets the wrong idea?”
“Mmm. Guess I have to.” Rin hopped down from my shoulders, somersaulting forward as she landed. She really was like a cat.
“Ling? Wasn’t that just against the rules?” Cecilia grit her teeth into a forced smile. She must be mad. Meanwhile, I was busy explaining to the other girls that they couldn’t actually take turns on my shoulders. This was all Rin’s fault.
“Wasn’t Cecilia here for something from you, too? So we all should get a turn, right?”
“No, I...”
“What, you weren’t about to? Okay, then I’d like—”
“I-I was! Ichika, hurry and oil me up!”
“EHHH?”
Just as I was clearing up the misconception, Cecilia set them off again. Ugh, why’d she have to be so loud about it?
“I’ll get the tanning oil!”
“I’ll get a beach towel!”
“And I’ll get an umbrella!”
“I’ll rinse my tanning oil off!”
You already had some on, why make more work for me? Ah, dammit, you’re already in the water. Come on... Anyway, the group that gathered because of Rin dispersed because of Cecilia.
“Ahem. If you could be so kind as to get started.” Cecilia unwrapped and dropped her sarong. Somehow, it came off as extremely sexy, and my heart started to pound.
