Infinite Stratos, Volume 4, page 6
“The hell you talkin’ about?”
“C’mon, she’s a little stunner!”
“I’m in too. I ain’t never been to a maid café.”
As his two underlings snickered, the boss furled his eyebrows and sat down on a nearby sofa.
“Fine, whatever. I’m thirsty. Bring me a menu.”
Laura kept her gaze firmly on the men as she reached below the counter. What she pulled forth was a full pitcher of ice.
“...The hell’s this?”
“Water.”
“Thought I asked for a menu.”
“Shut up and drink. If you can.”
Laura suddenly flipped the tray. The ice water soared up into the air, and with a quick spin she grabbed a cube—and flicked it away.
“Owww! What the hell are you—”
A frozen bullet. It smashed into his index finger which he’d lifted off the trigger, and while he was still stunned, more pounded into his eyelids, his throat, and between his eyes. Even before he could shout, Laura drove her knee into another robber’s gut.
“The fuck?! You little—”
The leader, recovering from his initial pain, opened fire with his pistol. The roar of exploding powder filled the room, but the bullets didn’t find their mark. Darting from sofa to table, potted plant to water cooler, Laura used the restaurant’s furniture as shields as she moved with a speed belied by her slender frame.
“Boss! She’s—”
“Chill! We can handle one brat!”
“Sorry, but there’s not just one.”
As the leader swapped magazines, a fabulous young butler—well, beautiful young Charlotte—closed in from behind. She let out a sigh of frustrated resignation as she moved, not just because she was dragged into this, but because Laura had acted alone, and that she had to support.
“What the hell?!”
“Maybe I’m glad I’m dressed as a butler. Hm, yeah— It lets me kick high.”
As she spoke, Charlotte kicked the leader’s pistol from his hand. Following through, she brought her leg down in an axe kick on the shoulder of the robber with a shotgun. With a sickening crunch, his arm hung limp.
Laura and Charlotte were both used to this—no, something more. It was proof of their experience in far fiercer, faster battles. As pilots with their own personal IS, their countries had naturally put them through training for every conceivable situation. Being a national cadet didn’t spare them from that. If anything, the opposite. They were trained to overcome any opposition, even without the use of their IS. Of course, as a soldier, Laura’s technique, reactions, and conditioning were notably beyond Charlotte’s. But in a situation like this, it made no difference.
“Target 2 neutralized— Laura?”
“No problems. Target 3 neutralized.”
Confirming that their targets had lost consciousness and mobility—in other words, were knocked out— the two nodded to each other. Only one target was left: the leader, who had just scrambled his way back to his pistol as their focus returned to him, and raised it to fire in his left hand.
“Gimme a fuckin’ break! No way am I gonna get taken down by two kids!”
The very instant that his unbroken left index finger curled around the trigger, Laura shot toward him like a bullet. As Charlotte twisted to evade, she planted her foot on an @Cruise tray. Stomping down on its rim, she flipped ‘something’ up in the air. With perfect timing, Laura snatched it as it flew. A weapon, shining dimly. Her hand now wrapped around murder itself, Laura pressed its muzzle between the leader’s eyes.
“You’re too slow. Now die.”
“Eh? Wait, Laura!”
With a thunk, Laura flipped it around and pistol-whipped on his temple, sending him sprawling like a marionette with its strings cut.
“All targets neutralized.”
“Phew. You scared me there for a second.”
“Saying that makes amateurs hesitate. It’s a safer way to finish the job.”
“If you say so.”
Laura would never actually pull the trigger. But Charlotte wouldn’t say that to her out loud. For some time, silence filled the café. The civilians inside, patrons and staff alike, were as breathless as if they’d just ridden a roller coaster, and only slowly began to raise their heads.
“Is it over?”
“Are we safe?”
“What just...”
They blinked inquisitively at Charlotte and Laura, understanding that they were out of danger, but not what had just happened. The manager, likewise stunned, could only wonder whether corporate would believe her report that ‘a beautiful silver-haired maid and a strapping young blond (female) butler had caused the damage while subduing a gang of bank robbers.’
“All right! Thanks, maid and butler!”
As it sunk in that the danger had passed, the café suddenly buzzed. Sensing the change, the police began to close in.
“Hmm, looks like Japanese police know what they’re doing.”
“Come on, Laura! We’re national cadets with our own IS! We can’t get found out!”
“You’re right. Let’s get out of here.”
As could be expected, outside of the area the police had roped off, a crowd of reporters had gathered. But then, things changed for the worse.
“I’ll blow you all up before I go to jail!”
The leader who they had thought was unconscious staggered to his feet and flung his bomber jacket open as he shouted crazily. His torso was wrapped with enough plastic explosives to easily flatten the 40-square-meter café. And the trigger was, of course, in his hand.
“Wow...”
“He really is old school.”
Even as the words slipped out, the café slipped yet deeper into a panic than before. But—
“You just don’t know when to give up, do you.”
Laura sent her skirt fluttering with a kick of her right leg, and every man in the room’s eyes were drawn to the band of white fabric which peeked out. A moment later, she brought her heel down. Catching the edge of a table, it sent the pistol flying into the air, where Charlotte tumbled over Laura’s back to catch it. And then... Rat-a-tat-a-tat!
“Checkmate.”
Double bursts of five shots tore through the detonator, fuse, and wiring connecting them—but nothing more.
“Shall we keep going?”
“Next is your arm.”
With two pistols pointed at him, the leader’s roars of rage faded to a pitiful whimper, “Sorry! I’m so sorry! I’ll never do this again! Just let me live!”
Without staying to listen to his admission of defeat, Laura and Charlotte slipped out. Like a black gust.
◆
“It’s getting late.”
Two hours had passed since the robbery, and as the duo finished their shopping and stepped out of the department store, the world had taken on an orange cast.
“Was that everything?”
“Yeah. But c’mon, Laura. You’ve been all ‘you pick’ and ‘get whatever’ for a while now. Girls don’t do that!”
“Stop scolding me. It’ll give you wrinkles.”
“It will not!”
Charlotte’s mind had already been drifting to something, and Laura had hit it dead center. That something was Ichika. Sometimes he really acts like an old man... Maybe he had been rubbing off on her. Laura, on the other hand, was definitely not easily influenced.
“Oh, right. There’s a park I wanted to check out over that way.”
“A park?”
“Yeah. Joushi Park. It’s built on the ruins of a castle.”
“Oh? Interesting. I’d heard Japanese castles were very defensible. Even if they’re just ruins, seeing them should be educational.”
Laura, as usual, was looking at it from a military perspective, but Charlotte didn’t feel the need to comment on that. Everyone has their own perspective, and it’s best to observe it and learn from it rather than force your own.
“We really bought a lot, too. The manager snuck us some pay on the way out, so we could get more than we planned on.”
“Oh, was money a question? I could stop by the bank, I have around twenty million euros available.”
“You’re that rich?!”
“Yeah. I’ve been in the military practically since birth. And then there’s the stipend for national cadets.”
Mine isn’t that shabby either, but still...
“But I don’t actually know how to withdraw it. I’ve never had to use it.”
“Well, uh. I see... You’ve definitely got a lot saved up. I’ll have to show you how to spend it.”
“Mm. Thanks. But I’ve just never needed to spend money for myself. Rations and uniforms were enough in the regular army, and when undercover I’ve been careful to only take things from my handlers. Otherwise, I’d be too easy to pin down.”
“You don’t have to worry that much about it here. Let’s at least get crêpes when we get to the park.”
“Huh? Crêpes? Why?”
“While I was on break at the café, someone told me that the berry medley crêpes brought good luck.”
“Is that some kind of weird Japanese thing?”
“I think it’s just a superstition.”
“Oh, folk religion.”
Charlotte nodded in affirmation, but looked a little bit exasperated. You’re not wrong, per se, but it’s something a bit more girlish... Anyway, though, Laura was up for it, so Charlotte led her forward. It wasn’t hard to find. The area was packed with high school girls, whether they were going out in the evening or coming back from practice.
“Let’s order.” Charlotte took Laura’s hand in both of hers and pulled her toward the crêpe truck. “Could we get two crêpes? Berry medley, please.”
The cook, a man in his late 20s with a scruffy beard, a bandana, and an affable expression, bowed his head slightly.
“I’m sorry. We’re out of berries today.”
“Oh, really? That’s too bad. Laura, what else did you want?”
“Mm? Strawberry and grape.”
Laura raised two fingers to signal that she wanted one of each, and stepped forward to pay.
“It’s okay, Laura. I’ve got this. After all, I dragged you out here.”
“Is that so? Don’t worry about it. Plus, I wanted to try spending. How did I do?”
There wasn’t a shred of girlishness in her voice, but Charlotte still had to hand it to her for her earnestness.
“100 points.”
“I knew it.” Laura spoke with self-satisfaction as she took the crêpes. “Which would you like?”
“Well. I’ll take the strawberry.”
Stepping a bit away from the shop, they found a bench to sit on and dug into their crêpes.
“Mmm! This is delicious!”
“It is. This is my first time eating a crêpe, but I think it tastes good.”
Charlotte had been a bit disappointed that she couldn’t try the berry medley, but the soft, tasty crêpe brought the joy back to her voice.
“This is great. We’re gonna have to come back here, and bring everyone.”
“I see. Then, I’ll bring Ichika.”
“That’s no fair!”
Really, though, seeing Laura being so honest about her feeling made Charlotte a bit jealous. I’d love to come here just with Ichika, too... She remembered her dream of the week before—the one too embarrassing to mention to anyone—and her cheeks flushed. Trying to hide it from everyone and no one, she ate her crêpe faster. Ugh... That was just a dream. It didn’t really happen. I should just forget it.
“Charlotte.”
“Mm? What, Lau—”
Smooch. Laura’s lips locked with Charlotte’s.
“Wh-Whaaaaaaat?!”
“You had some sauce on you.”
“S-So what?!”
“My hands were full.”
Laura held up the crêpe in her right hand and the bags in her left.
“You could have told me!”
“It was about to fall.”
Laura tilted her head at Charlotte, as if unsure why it was a big deal. Like a kitten innocently stepping over the bounds of the heart, was the image that came to Charlotte’s mind.
“Whoops.”
This time, Laura licked her own hand. Like a cat cleaning its fur.
Ngh...! Charlotte’s heart was still pounding from Laura’s actions. It wasn’t that she was seriously falling for another girl, but anyone’s heart would skip a beat or two with a beautiful girl their age being so intimate. She just doesn’t understand how what she’s doing looks like. I shouldn’t blame her for it. Charlotte was, of course, herself quite beautiful, but people never understand that about themselves.
“Don’t be so angry. Here, I’ll share mine.”
“T-Thank you!”
Hiding her embarrassment, Charlotte took a bite of Laura’s crêpe.
“By the way, that crêpe shop doesn’t even have a berry medley.”
“Eh?”
“It wasn’t on the menu. None of the sauces in the kitchen were the right color.”
“Oh, really? You’re observant.”
“Of course I am. What if that was cover for a terrorist? Think of what would happen if he set off a grenade at that range. Even if we emergency deployed our IS, our lives would be in danger.”
“...So that’s how you were thinking about it.”
Charlotte’s shoulders drooped in dejection, as her hopes that it was for a more girlish reason were dashed.
“But we can still have berry medley.”
“Huh?”
“What flavor is this crêpe?”
“Grape, right?” Seeing the hint of a smile on Laura’s face, Charlotte suddenly realized. “Oh! Strawberry and blueberry?”
“Precisely.”
Laura, self-satisfied, took a bite.
“But wait, Laura! Blueberries and grapes are different!”
“They’re still similar, though. And if I had said ‘I want blueberry,’ you’d have figured it out.”
Now that Charlotte thought of it... The cook’s face had lit up when he heard the order, too.
“I see. So that’s the hidden meaning behind ‘berry medley.’”
Charlotte nodded in realization, embarrassed at her assumption that Laura was just being dense. The shame of mistaken assumptions brought a different blush to her face. I see... So that’s how it is. I’d love to have a berry medley crêpe with my boyfriend... Charlotte let Laura’s actions replay in her mind, with the lead role replaced by Ichika. That would be screening, matinees and evening showings alike, for the next few days.
“Summer’s almost over.”
“Yeah.”
The two didn’t have to say what that meant. This summer, not just this summer but this year, was a turning point in their youths. Not just their youths, their whole lives. A time they’d never forget.
Fifteen years old, and in love for the first time.
◆
“What is this?”
“It’s adorable, that’s what it is! It looks great on you!”
“Don’t hug me! I can’t move!”
“But cats are for having in your lap!”
“But you’re a cat, too.”
The excited conversation was taking place in Laura and Charlotte’s dorm room. With nothing else to do after dinner, Charlotte had suggested that they change into their new pajamas.
“Are these really pajamas?”
“Yeah. They’re comfy, aren’t they?”
“How would I know until I sleep in them?”
Laura’s suspicion was reasonable. These were pajamas, but certainly not normal ones. The voluminous cut covered the whole body except for the face. Each pair had a hood with cat ears, and the arms and legs ended on paws. In other words, they were cat pajamas.
“I think I’d rather sleep in the nude. That would probably be more comfortable.”
“You can’t! Plus, these look so good on you. It’d be a shame to take them off.”
Laura’s outfit was black, while Charlotte’s was white. Since they’d changed, Charlotte had had Laura seated in her lap, embracing her from behind. Charlotte, at least, seemed to be enjoying it a lot.
“C’mon, Laura. Why don’t you try saying ‘meow,’ just this once?”
“I refuse! Why should I have to?”
“Because it would be cute! Cuteness is important!”
Charlotte’s innocent enthusiasm and happy smile were, to Laura, her greatest enemy. Laura’d been assailed with a storm of ‘because it’s cute’ and ‘you have to try it on’ and ‘sorry, but no saying no,’ a complete 180-degree turn from normal. Before she knew what was happening she’d ended up firmly planted in Charlotte’s lap.
“C’mon, give it a try! Meow!”
“Me-Meow...”
Charlotte’s happiness visually grew as she watched Laura mimic an embarrassed cat. Almost like the displays showing a certain space battleship’s main cannon charging.
“You look so cute, Laura! Let’s take a picture!”
“And leave evidence behind? I absolutely refuse!”
“Don’t complain like that!”
Knock, knock.
“Come in!”
Charlotte called out with the happy bluntness only heard in girls’ dorms, only for her gleeful grin to turn to an embarrassed blush in an instant.
“Hey. Oh, what’s up with those outfits? Black and white cats?”
Their visitor was Ichika.
Whaaaaaaat? He’s never ever come here before, so why now? Why today? Why when I’m in cat pajamas? I’m not normally like this! I just bought something cute when I was out shopping today, my normal pajamas are much more mature! I’m not normally like this at all! Charlotte’s head spun. Even as she tried to explain, all that came out of her mouth was mumbled ‘er’s and ‘ah’s.
“You called me earlier and I missed it. I was busy with IS stuff all day. Around dinner, I tried to call you back but you didn’t answer, so I came to see what was up.”
“I see. Hmm. You’re quite the attentive bride. I appreciate it.”
Laura had slipped from Charlotte’s arms as she panicked, and now stood with her hands on her hips but none of her usual menace. The cat ears and paws completely eliminated that. Rather than being intimidating, it just made her even cuter.
