Infinite Stratos - Volume 3, page 6
*SUPAZ!!*
"WAAHHH!!"
I thought that Tabane-san would be hiding underground, so I forcefully pulled her out. But that's not the case, as I tumbled backwards due to the huge force.
"OWWW..."
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, Cecilia. It's nothing, I was just pulling these bunny ears--AH!"
My sight looks up at where the sound came from, but as I'm still on the floor, it means...that I'm looking up her skirt.
"!? I-ICHIKA-SAN!"
Noticing my gaze, Cecilia quickly pressed her skirt down and backed away. On a side note, huh...white with laces on the sides. NO WAIT, I'M A DOUCHEBAG! WHY COULD I SEE THAT CLEARLY!!?
"So-Sorry! Well, that, there were bunny ears over there, so I..."
"Wha-What?"
Cecilia asked back with a surprised voice. This can't be helped. If I were to hear others explain this to me, even I would feel that it's ridiculous. On a side note, as she's embarrassed and furious, her face is all flushed.
"No, Tabane-san is--"
*KIIIIIIIINNNN*...
Uu? What's with this thing that's flying at supersonic speed--hold on, UWAAHHH!!!
*DON--K!!*
An unidentified flying object drilled deeply into the ground, and it looks like--
""A-A carrot...?""
Cecilia and I said that together. Also, it looks like an illustration-style transforming carrot. Speaking of which, what's going on!?
"Ahahahaha! You got tricked, Ii-kun!!"
*PA!* The carrot split into half, and the person who appeared while laughing is the genius I mentioned before--Shinonono Tabane-san...can't she enter through a normal way?
"Well, when I used a missile to fly, I was nearly shot down by a certain country's scouting planes! I'm a creature who knows how to learn. Fui Fui!"
She's wearing a tightfitting blue and white skirt that's like the one in Alice in Wonderland. She takes the bunny ears from me and immediately puts them on. Is she acting the part of Alice in Wonderland alone? I really can't understand this person's theme of trends.
"Long-Long time no see, Tabane-san."
"Yup yup, it's been long, really long. Speaking of which, Ii-kun, where's Houki-chan? Were both of you together just now? Did she go to the bathroom?"
"Huh..."
She went off to escape from Tabane-san. I can't say it, so I really don't know how to answer her.
"Well, no problem. I can use just this little Houki-chan detector to find her! Bye bye Ii-kun. See you later!!"
Just like that, she vanished like the wind, and blazingly fast. On a side note, it seems that the Houki-chan detector she's talking about seems to be that pair of bunny ears. The detectors successfully turn towards where Houki went. No, wait, do detectors look like that?
"I-Ichika-san? Was that..."
"She's Tabane-san, Houki's older sister."
"Huh...WHAAT? That-That was Professor Shinonono? The professor who's currently missing and every country's looking for?"
"Yes, that Shinonono Tabane."
On a side note, this seaside school event has a theme called 'IS mobilization in unrestricted area', so there are all sorts of new models sent over from all countries. But as outside personnel are not allowed to participate, it seem that they can only transport them here through landing crafts.
However, as expected of Tabane-san, she likely ignored the rules completely and sneaked in, right? Speaking of which, what's her aim?
"Well, it seems like she's looking for Houki, so it looks like it's unrelated to me for now. Speaking of which, I'm going to the beach, what about you Cecilia?"
"Oh, okay, I'm going to the beach too. Oh-Oh yes!"
Ahem, Cecilia clears her throat. What's wrong? Is she trying to imitate Chifuyu-nee?
"I-I can't rub sunblock lotion on my back, so I want Ichika-san to help out...can you?"
"Hm? Can't you get a friend?"
"Huh? Ohh, that's true, but if possible...well, Ichika-san..."
What's wrong? Is she still embarrassed that I just saw her underwear? Cecilia looks rather fidgety, and her eyes started wavering about.
"Mn, why don't you just don't apply it?"
"OBJECTION!!"
She immediately refused. I actually wanted to make a joke. Maybe it was the wrong timing? I would always make the girls angry when I joke with them.
"I'm joking, I'm joking! Well, if it's that kind of trivial stuff, I'd be glad to help."
"Re-Really? You won't take it back, right?"
Woah, is she really insistent on sunblock? She sounded really agitated even though I haven't even rubbed it on her.
"I got it. See you later then."
After nodding hard twice, Cecilia ran to the annex. She's not as fast as Tabane-san, but her footsteps are rather light.
"Alright. I'll go over then."
Of course, being a guy, I was told to use the inner most changing room in the annex's changing rooms. On a side note, once I leave that annex, I can go run all the way to the sea!!
(Huh, speaking of which...)
The inner most changing room--this means that I have to go past the female changing room. Of course, I won't be able to see what's inside, but the screams of excitement would be irresistible.
"WAH, MIKA! YOUR BREASTS ARE BIG!? YOU'RE STILL IN PUBERTY, RIGHT~?"
"KYAH!! DON'T-DON'T GRAB THEM!!"
"MENA'S SWIMSUIT'S RATHER BOLD. AMAZING~"
"REALLY? THIS IS COMMON IN AMERICA."
...
That's right. All these topics are being discussed casually. To be honest, I'm really afraid of hearing these. What should I say? Well, I'll be embarrassed, it's just that I don't know why.
I slightly increased my speed and headed towards the guys' changing room. Guys change clothes really easily, and I finished while thinking of what to do for warm-ups. Alright, time to head to the seaside!
"Ah, it's Orimura-kun!"
"AR-ARE YOU FOR REAL? IS-IS MY SWIMSUIT WEIRD? THERE'S NO PROBLEM, RIGHT?"
"Wa-Wahh~his physique's amazing~he did train~"
"Orimura-kun, let's play beach volleyball later~"
"Oh, if there's time later, okay."
Having just exited the changing room, I met a few girls who exited from the neighboring changing room. They're all wearing cute swimsuits, and the amount of skin they revealed really made me nervous.
And then, I take a step to the seaside--the sand that's baked hot by the July sun, and my soles got scalded.
"HOT HOT HOT HOT!!"
For someone like me who hasn't been to the beach for quite a few years, this feeling's really nostalgic and satisfying. That's right, this's how the beach should be like!
The bare feet of mine can feel the heat of the sand, causing me to curl my toes slightly as I walk towards the coast. The beach's already full of female students. Some are sunbathing, some are playing beach volleyball, some are swimming, everyone's doing all sorts of activities. They're all wearing swimsuits of many different colors, and in a certain sense, it's even more eye-blinding than the sun of July.
"He, ho..."
I start to do my warm-ups first. It's been a long time since I've been to the seaside. It'll be ugly if I get leg cramps and drown. Anyway, let's stretch the arms, contract the legs, stretch the back--
"I-chika~"
Oh--HUH, WHAT?
"You're rather serious, doing stretches so seriously. Okay, let's go swim once you're done!"
Suddenly jumping on my back is Rin. Speaking of which, whether it was primary school or middle school, she would always jump on me when she puts on a swimsuit. She's really like a cat.
On a side note, she's wearing a sports bikini. The orange swimsuit has white lining and reveals the bellybutton.
"Hey hey, do some warm-ups too! I don't care if you drown."
"I won't drown! I was a mermaid in my previous life, most likely."
She continued to pull as she quickly climbed up my body and sat on my shoulders. She was probably a cat or a monkey in her previous life, right? Also, the mermaid illustrations were drawn by men at first. Does she know that?
"Ohh--I'm so high up. I can see things far away from here clearly. It's great. You can be a mini-observation tower, Ichika."
Thanks. It's hard to find a job now anyway, so maybe this can do--WHAT, YOU IDIOT!!
"Not being a lookout worker, but a tower!?"
"What's wrong with that? It can benefit others anyway."
"Who would climb up..."
"Mn...me?"
Rin chuckled. Ugh--this person.
"Ah-Ahh-Aahh! What, what are you two doing?"
Walking over here, Cecilia questioned us. She's holding onto the foldable beach umbrella, a beach mat and sunblock.
She's wearing a bright blue bikini, and the sari that's tied around her waist has a bit of elegance. It looks nice, just like a model. The ample breasts the swimsuit emphasizes are more alluring than what I had imagined, thus I inadvertently looked away in embarrassment.
"Nothing much, just sitting on his shoulders. Or rather, he's acting as a movable watchtower."
"So you're actually acting."
"Of course, I don't have a license."
"Huh-that's true."
"Isn't that right? But if someone was drowning, I would still go and save her."
"Could-Could you please stop ignoring me!!"
Ohh, I suddenly started talking to Rin who's on my body. On a side note, I'm okay with her sticking to me like this, mainly--I can't say it to her directly-- 'cause her chest is super flat! Besides, she's been sitting on me like this since primary school, so I got very used to it.
"Anyway, Rin-san, hurry up and get off him!"
"No."
"What, what kind of childish tantrum are you throwing...!"
*PAZZ!* Cecilia stabs the beach umbrella into the sand. Woah, it seems like she's fuming!
"What's wrong? Is someone arguing?"
"Huh? Ah--! O-Orimura-kun has someone sitting on his shoulders!"
"Whaat? That's so nice, so nice~!"
"Must be by turn, right?"
"So the one who gets first will go first!"
I could randomly hear some quarreling girls seemingly creating a misunderstanding as they all squeezed over and asked me to let them sit on my shoulders. This is bad, this is really bad. If so many girls are to sit on my shoulders, it would be mentally draining for a guy, both physically and mentally.
"Rin, Rin, hurry up and get down. There will be misunderstandings."
"Hmm, well, it can't be helped."
Alright. Rin jumped down from my shoulders and used her hands to land before flipping forward. Amazing, she's practically the same as a cat.
"Rin-san...? Wasn't that against the rules...?"
Cecilia's showing a stiff smile. She must be fuming.
On a side note, I'm explaining to the girls gathering here 'I don't provide such services'. Sigh, it's all because of Rin.
"Speaking of which, Cecilia, you definitely asked Ichika to do something for you, right? We're even now, aren't we?"
"No, that..."
"Huh? You didn't ask him to do something? Then, I'll--"
"I-I did! ICHIKA-SAN, HURRY OVER AND HELP ME APPLY SUNBLOCK!"
"""WHAAT!!!???"""
Cecilia said that while I was explaining to the girls, causing them to shout out. Ahh, you idiot! Why did you say that so loudly...
"I'LL GET THE SUNBLOCK!"
"I'LL GET THE BEACH MAT!"
"I'LL GET THE BEACH UMBRELLA!"
"I'LL WASH THE SUNBLOCK OFF THEN!"
Hey! Since you already applied it, stop deliberately increasing my workload! *sigh*, that girl went into the sea. Heeeeey...
Anyway, the girls who gathered here because of Rin dispersed because of Cecilia.
"Ahem, I'll leave it to you then."
Cecilia gently takes off her sari. The action itself looked bewitching, causing my heart to skip a beat.
"Huh, erm...just the back, right?"
"If-If Ichika-san wants, you can apply it on the front as well."
"No, well, just let me apply it on the back."
"If that's the case--"
Cecilia suddenly undoes the swimsuit knot that's tied at the back and presses her breasts against her swimsuit as she lies face-down on the beach mat.
"I-I'm ready. Please rub, okay?"
"O-Okay..."
The swimsuit that was undone is now stuck between the beach mat and the body, as Cecilia's completely defenseless back is naked for show to me. The cleavage that's revealed under the armpit is distorted, and it's a little--no, extremely sexy.
Also, maybe it's because she's pressing down, as her curvy buttocks aren't making me forget about them, and because the sari was blocking just now, I didn't notice that the lower part of her swimsuit revealed quite a lot.
The straight legs are as pretty as ever, making me swallow my saliva unconsciously.
"The-Then, I'm applying it now."
"KYAH! I-Ichika-san, you must warm your hands slightly before applying sunblock."
"Is-Is that so? It's my first time doing this...sorry."
"Is-Is that so? So it's your first time? It, it's not your fault then."
For some reason, I feel that Cecilia sounded really happy. Maybe I'm thinking too much.
Anyway, I followed what she instructed and squeezed the sunblock on my palms, rubbed them warm until it got suitably warm before applying it on Cecilia.
(Uwa, Cecilia's skin is really supple...I can feel that it's comfortable just by touching it...)
"Mn...that's nice! Ichika-san, do the bottom part as well."
"I-I just needed to rub the back, no?"
"No, no...since you already started rubbing it on me, please rub onto the parts my hands can't reach, including the legs, and the butt."
"WHAAAT!?"
No-No way! This is way too dangerous. It's just applying sunblock, but for me to touch Cecilia's butt is too--
"Okay okay, I'll rub it for you, until you're all sticky."
"KYAH! Ri-Rin-san, why did you come here to me--IT-IT'S COLD!!"
"What's the problem? Since you just need to apply sunblock, it's doesn't matter how you do it. I'll rub it on you."
"Ahh, that's enough! Behave your--"
Cecilia stood up angrily, and the swimsuit slipped down the body--
"AH!"
"KYAH!!"
That was close! The important parts weren't shown, but Cecilia ducked down, so embarrassed that her ears are red.
"Ah...sorry."
"It-It-It's basically, saying sorry now, that's...RIN-SAN! I DEFINITELY WON'T FORGIVE YOU!!"
"Hmm...I'm running off then. Bye bye!"
*Guieee*.
"HEY! STOP DRAGGING ME IN! SIGH, REALLY, YOU...SORRY CECILIA! THAT, WELL, I DIDN'T SEE THEM, SO DON'T MIND, OKAY?"
"WHA-WHAT...!"
Her face flushed red, Cecilia's unable to grip her fist tight and swing over as she maintains that pose, frozen there.
As for me, I got dragged by Rin into the sea.
"BUHA! Rin, you're really...!"
"Let's have a race to that buoy over there, Ichika! If you lose, you have to treat me to parfait at '@ CRUISE'--READY, GO!"
"HEY, THAT'S NOT FAIR! ACK, WAIT FOR ME!!"
"HAHAHA, WHO ASKED YOU TO DAZE OFF THERE!!"
Just like that, I got dragged into the scenario of chasing after Rin. On a side note, the cheapest parfait '@ CRUISE' sells is 1,500 yen, so I definitely can't lose this match.
◇
(I'm really sorry, Cecilia, but let me win this time.)
Rin continued to swim against Ichika as she pondered.
Last month, she specially made her sweet and sour pork bento. To be honest, it was a failure because she didn't expect Houki and Cecilia to make their own food.
(I thought that was a good strategy!)
On a side note, what she had planned for that time was:
"Only Ichika's sweet and sour pork wasn't hot."
↓
"I want to eat some hot sweet and sour pork!"
↓
"Really, what's with you."
↓
"Here, ahh--"
Something like that, but it wasn't successful at all.
It's true that the tactic to make him eat sweet and sour pork succeeded, but the fact was that she fell behind Houki, so there was a little sense of failure there.
In addition, she only bought her own share of rice because:
"Give me some rice!"
↓
"Really, it can't be helped."
↓
"Here, ah--"
She wanted to employ this tactic, but it failed because of Houki as well.
(But to guys, skin contact should be most effective, right? And Ichika knows that I'll stick onto him once I put on a swimsuit.)
But there's another problem to this reaction, and that is 'He doesn't really sees me as a girl'. To be honest, she's rather frustrated as well.
(No, no worries! There shouldn't be that many girls who would stick close to him! As for Cecilia, well, it was a close shave...)
Thinking up till here, she remembered the situation just now.
(Sunblock lotion...Ichika looked rather stiff just now. Maybe I should just get him to apply it on me.)
It was Cecilia's idea, but the winner is whoever does it first.
(Bu-But, he'll touch my body. It, it doesn't matter if I touch him, but if he's to touch me...it's-it's a little embarrassing...)
She cools her gradually reddening face into the sea, but the fluttering in her chest doesn't stop as it becomes even faster.
(Uu~...but other girls would definitely have confessed to him...)
*Bukubukubuku*, Rin's not exhaling, but sighing to hide her embarrassment. The air form bubbles in the sea.
(Huuh, Huang Lingyin, buck up! You're already studying in IS Academy, what do you intend to do if you don't work harder!?)
Watch me! Trying to motivate herself, she accidentally took in a large amount of air. But this is the sea, so what she breathed in wasn't air, but seawater.
"!? GLUPPLUPLUP!!"
As it was too sudden, Rin sank into a light moment of panic and started struggling due to the sudden loss of balance.
(Wa-Water, ran in...! Up, got to go up...)
But as this was the water, she didn't know which direction she was swimming towards. As Rin looked like she was really about to drown, a strong arm pulled her up.
