“Mmm... I just wanted to thank you.” A blush began to rise to Charlotte’s cheeks.

  “I don’t think there’s anything to thank me for...”

  “Yes there is!” Ichika was surprised by her sudden shout. Charlotte, for her part, gasped before looking down at the floor awkwardly. “I think there is. You’ve always been there for me.”

  “Really?”

  The two fell silent, but not awkwardly. Instead, they let the sudden feeling of peace walk over them.

  “Staaaaaaare.”

  They could feel stares drilling into them from the cracked door.

  “Staaaaaaare.”

  Stares belonging to Laura and Kanzashi.

  “You two can come in, you know.” As Charlotte spoke, their expressions immediately brightened.

  “Very well, then.”

  “Pardon us...”

  The two stared intently at Ichika as they walked in.

  “Wh-What?” he asked.

  “I was just thinking, picking a fight with a grownup twice your size is probably the stupidest thing I’ve seen you do. And that’s saying a lot.”

  “Ichika... You really need to learn some self-control.”

  “Ugh.” There was no way to argue with that. “But! But, I—”

  Ichika leaned forward, unable to just sit and take their criticism. Charlotte laid a finger across his lips to stop him from continuing on, then said, “I know, I know. We’ll call it a draw, okay?”

  “Ugh...”

  The three girls laughed at his sputtering consternation. The only witness to their conversation was the setting sun outside the window.

  ◇

  “Err, thank you for your hospitality.” The butler had escorted Ichika and the others to the airport in Paris.

  “Take care, ma Dame.”

  “Jeez. I’m not a princess or anything. You can just call me by my name,” protested Charlotte.

  “Impossible! It would be a betrayal of my master, and unspeakable rudeness to the heir to the Dunois fortune. I simply can’t bring myself to do so.”

  “Ahaha...”

  As Charlotte laughed wanly, Ichika whispered in her ear, “This must be a lot of weight on your shoulders, Charl.”

  “Yeah.” Charlotte blushed at his sudden closeness. As she did, the butler James picked up on the subtle cue.

  “And you, Monsieur Orimura. She may be your friend, but you’re close for friends. Rather too close. I must ask you to step back.” With a surprising strength for his age, the butler pushed them apart. A withering glare and a stomp to the foot completed this picture of French propriety.

  Putting some distance between himself and the butler, Ichika whispered in Laura’s ear this time, “I, uh. I don’t think he likes me very much.”

  “I guess.” Just as Charlotte’s had, Laura’s cheeks reddened as he leaned close.

  “Sacré bleu! This simply will not do! This, this... This unbecoming behavior! If you have chosen ma Dame, you must stand by your decision! If you have not, I simply cannot allow you to accompany her any further!”

  “Come on! It’s not that big of a deal! We’re going to miss our flight!” Pressing by the enraged butler, Charlotte rushed to the boarding gate.

  “We’ve gotta get going. See you.” As Ichika tried to duck by the butler, he was caught by the collar.

  “I hope you understand. If you make her cry, I may forgive you someday, but Monsieur...”

  At the realization that it was all just a father’s concern for his daughter, Ichika burst out laughing without realizing it.

  “I’ll make sure I don’t! Goodbye!”

  Au revoir, France! Next stop, England!

  Chapter III: Excalibur, Golden Blade of Glory

  “It’s cold!” Ichika wrapped his arms around himself as he stepped out of the airport.

  “Again? You should realize, the further north you go, the colder it’ll get.” Charlotte took off her own cap and smiled in satisfaction as she placed it on Ichika’s head.

  Seeing her expression, Ichika couldn’t help but laugh himself. Leaving the airport, they were greeted beside the roundabout by the squad who had come from Germany.

  “I-Ichika?! Aren’t you rather close to Charlotte?” Their happy, contented air was anything but calming to Cecilia. She couldn’t help but imagine what had happened in France that had brought them closer together. “D-Did something happen in France?”

  “We just—”

  As Ichika began to explain, a mad dog who’d slipped her collar began to howl. “You little shits! Let me the hell go! Gahhh— You’re gonna break my fucking neck, shit-for-brains!”

  The source of the commotion was Autumn. Chifuyu, already well-practiced at this, had put her in an arm lock. “...Well, a lot happened,” Charlotte sighed.

  Noticing the bandages on Ichika’s face, Cecilia was alarmed. “Ichika, are you all right?! Charlotte! What happened to him?!”

  Ichika calmed her with a quick headpat and said, “I’m fine.”

  “Ah... Yes...” Cecilia blushed and stared down, a child’s embarrassed blush.

  Houki and Ling were less than pleased. The reunion wasn’t a cause for joy. Just a return to how things should have been to begin with, in their minds.

  “Anyway! I saw your IS on TV, Charlotte! That was amazing!” Ling shoved a French newspaper at them.

  “What’s it say? ‘The second coming of La Pucelle de France?! Charlotte Dunois and the world’s first dual-core IS, Rein Carnation’... It’s already in the papers?!” Albert must have been pulling strings. Once he set his mind on something, there was no stopping him.

  “That guy...”

  He may have gotten over his anger, and he may have just thrown up his hands in frustration and moved on. Taken charitably, it may have been an attempt to protect Charlotte. But from anyone else’s viewpoint, it was the actions of an embarrassingly proud dad. On the front page was a photo of Charlotte’s face, she hadn’t even realized there was a photographer there.

  “Ah, wait... Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!” Flustered, Charlotte grabbed the newspaper from Ichika and tore it up. “Y-You didn’t even see this! Right, Ichika?”

  “Uh, sure.”

  Charlotte blushingly curled up into herself, embarrassed at her family.

  “Ahem! In any case, welcome, Ichika! Welcome, everyone! Welcome to Great Britain!” Cecilia gave a prim curtsy, the very picture of a proper lady. Behind her, her maids lined up. Twenty-four of them, flanking her on either side. She looked like Moses parting the seas.

  But what was unusual was that the Alcotts’ chief maid Chelsea was not present. Ichika couldn’t help but notice the dark undertone to Cecilia’s smile.

  “Hey, Cecilia—”

  “CHICHAN!” Rushing up trailing a cloud of dust came none other but the inventor of the IS (and current Interpol Red Notice subject) Shinonono Tabane. “I’ve missed you sooooo much! Oh! And Houki’s here too! And even Icky! The All-Stars are all here, ehehe.”

  Tabane wiped a vein of drool from her face as Chifuyu held her off with a single hand. They were always like this. But Ichika couldn’t help but have his doubts. She was a Phantom Task higher-up, trouble on two feet—a lit stick of dynamite.

  “Chifuyu, what on earth...”

  “Let me explain.” Chifuyu rasped out a sigh, and began to speak sternly. “The upcoming mission is a joint operation between European Union high command, IS Academy officials... And Phantom Task.”

  “Wh—?!”

  Chifuyu stepped forward as their jaws dropped. “Quiet down! We move out at sixteen hundred hours, four hours from now. The operation is called...”

  [Sword Breaker!]

  ◇

  Elsewhere, at a Royal Air Force base. Dozens of technical staff were milling around.

  “I don’t understand what’s going on...” Ichika cradled his head in his arms as his fellow pilots put their IS through their checklists. His own Byakushiki had been changed to ‘Unlimited’ combat mode, equipped with reactive armor, a shield, and a top-secret package, all being attended to by the mechanics passing by him. “What are they even doing? All my expansion slots are already full. I hope that black box package even does something...”

  An engineer, overhearing his murmuring, slapped him on the butt.

  “Whoa!”

  “Hey there, cutie. Long time no see.” A school swimsuit-style IS suit on her body, a lab coat, swim goggles on her head, and a harpoon in her hand. It was half a world away from where they’d met, but Ichika still recognized her instantly.

  “Kagaribi Hikaruno?!”

  “Haaaaaaaai! The lady of your dreams, Kagaribi Hikaruno! Back by popular demand!” She snapped her swim goggles off. He could see she was still dripping wet. She’d probably just been diving again, but there was no way to really tell. “I’ve got something super-special for you today! An attachment to finally let Byakushiki take expansions! Of course, Professor Shinonono took the lead in development—”

  As if summoned, Tabane popped her head up. “Icky, you should take a walk somewhere while I take a look at Byakushiki.”

  “Really? That’s kind of out of nowhere.”

  “You’re in England! Take in the sights! There’s no reason you have to be cooped up in here just because everyone else is.”

  Ignoring Hikaruno, Tabane looked straight at Cecilia; who, remembering their previous encounter, gulped.

  “Hey, Cecilia! Why don’t you take Icky somewhere?”

  “Huh?” Ichika, Cecilia, and even Chifuyu gasped in surprise.

  Tabane had always been one to straight-up ignore the people around her. As they wondered just what had made her change, Tabane pushed Ichika forward.

  “Go for it!” she said. Nervously, Ichika approached Cecilia. “C’mon, you’d better get going!”

  Tabane pushed Cecilia toward Ichika before returning to her work. That, at least, was the Tabane they all knew.

  “Er, um...”

  “Shall we?”

  Two others crept up on them as they nervously wavered. Ling and Houki.

  “Hold it, Ceci—hrmph!”

  “Hey, Ichi—hlmph!”

  As if driven by a sixth sense, Chifuyu caught them and clamped a hand over each of their mouths.

  “Don’t you two have some checklists to run down? This mission’s going to take everything your IS have.” Her eyes gleamed. There was no arguing with that.

  “Understood...”

  Tabane flashed Chifuyu a thumbs-up. All she could respond with was a sigh.

  ◇

  Cecilia practically skipped down a brick-paved avenue as she dragged a nervous Ichika by his hand. This is finally my chance! It’s like they say in Japan, ‘mochi fallen from a shelf’! Cecilia tried not to clench her fists in excitement. I need to take it slowly, coolly, but boldly! Just like Sherlock Holmes would!

  Focusing on the ‘boldly’ part, she realized something. Oh no! My lingerie today... I didn’t wear anything special... Forgetting a girl’s final weapon, her date night panties, was a fatal mistake. But this was all so unexpected. Cecilia tried to convince herself that it wasn’t her own fault. What was the line in that show? Ah, yes! ‘Fortune is a fickle ally’! Thinking back to an anime Kanzashi had sat her down and made her watch, she tried to pump herself up. Anyway! I do still need to show Ichika London. She let go of his hand, before wrapping her arm around him.

  “Uhh, Cecilia...”

  “You’re cold, aren’t you? This should warm you up a bit.”

  “I guess, but...” For once, Ichika decided to shut up rather than draw attention.

  “Shall we be off, then? I have so much to show you!”

  Ichika knew well that there was no way he could stop Cecilia once she got started. I guess it’s a good way to keep her mind off Chelsea. He had his own way of caring. And no matter how embarrassing it was for him, he wasn’t going to slip out of her embrace.

  “Cecilia, I know it’s not all that fun, but do you know where I could get a coat? It really is cold here.”

  “I know just the place! I’m sure you’ll find something perfect for you.” She smiled, pleased with herself.

  Ichika walked along beside her, entranced by its gleam. “If it’s something you recommend, won’t it be expensive, though?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll cover it.”

  “You don’t have to—”

  “Why, it’s nothing to worry about. I’m an Alcott. I have a castle, for goodness’ sake.” Meaning she was nobility. They really did live in different worlds.

  “Thanks, then.”

  “If it bothers you that much, you’re welcome to pay me back, of course.”

  “Eesh. Uhh, maybe I don’t need a coat.”

  “Ahaha, I was only kidding.” Cecilia, feeling even better, held Ichika tighter. His pulse began to rise as he felt her chest rub against him.

  “And here we are.”

  Ten minutes later, they’d arrived at a shop right in the middle of a block on the high street. Ichika marveled at its very English fusion of classical design and high style. As he gawked at his surroundings, an English gentleman poked his head out to receive them.

  “Why, if it isn’t Miss Alcott. And such a marvelous young man. It’s an honor to be graced by your presence.”

  “Why, thank you,” said Cecilia with a nod. “Go ahead, Ichika.”

  “Huh? Ah. Okay.” He pushed the heavy door open and stepped into a warm room heavy with tradition. As he slid his borrowed coat off, a gentleman, dressed in black, stepped up to take it.

  “Your coat, if I may,” said the man.

  “Th-Thanks.” He awkwardly handed it over, and the man stepped back. Not being asked for his name or given a claim check was definitely a departure from how things worked in Japan. “H-Hey, Cecilia. I’m a bit out of place here.”

  “Why, not at all! Look at that coat there, I think it would be wonderful on you.”

  The lack of a price tag made Ichika nervous as the attendant helpfully raised it so he could thread his arms through. It was a trenchcoat, in all black. It made him look more mature.

  Cecilia gasped in relish as he tried it on.

  “Oh my! Ichika, it looks wonderful on you!”

  “Really?” He wasn’t much one to argue with praise.

  “We’ll take this one. He’ll be wearing it, so no need to wrap it. Bill it to my account.” Cecilia quickly handled the formalities and, arm-in-arm, they stepped out of the shop. “It’s the British way to decide these sorts of things on first impression.”

  Ichika wasn’t sure if she was joking with him or not, but she followed up with a wink.

  “Well, if you say so.”

  “Would I lie?”

  Next up was a stroll around London. The well-made coat was warmer than it looked, and protected Ichika from the winter chill. And also made Cecilia’s warmth and curves feel a little bit further away.

  “Let me show you a café next, Ichika. They have my favorite tea.” A playful smile drifted to her face, before suddenly being wiped off. “Chelsea...?”

  Cecilia spied her across the road, in the corner of her vision. Chelsea wasn’t wearing her usual maid outfit. Instead, she had on Phantom Task’s trademark black cloak.

  “Catch me if you can,” she intoned quietly. The words were lost in the drone of a passing car’s exhaust, but the meaning came through loud and clear.

  “Ichika!”

  “I know!”

  They had no IS. But they had to give chase. Neither was experienced enough to pass over the obvious bait.

  ◇

  “Then, let’s go over the special O.V.E.R.S. packages that your IS have been equipped with.” Every checklist had been checked, every feature tuned, and now Chifuyu had summoned Houki, Ling, and Laura for a briefing.

  “What about Ichika and Cecilia?” asked Houki, nervously raising her hand. The three there were already in their IS suits.

  “Those two will be taking a different role in the mission. Cecilia’s IS is more suited for a different package, and doesn’t require this explanation... I’ll be explaining to Orimura directly.”

  “Okay then!” called out Kagaribi Hikaruno, striking a strange pose as she made her entrance. “Let me explain my very own Output Variable Energy Reverse System package!”

  Chifuyu ignored Hikaruno’s thumbs-up. It was hard to imagine them as classmates. But, then and now, Chifuyu had always paid much more attention to Tabane.

  “Umm, let’s see...” continued Hikaruno. “The O.V.E.R.S. is able to amplify and shift a small source of energy to provide a massive energy output—”

  As if waiting for these words, Tabane swooped in and said, “That’s just like Akatsubaki’s Kenran Butou! What a coincidence! It’s almost like—”

  “Almost like I copied from the Akatsubaki.” Hikaruno defanged Tabane’s sudden glare with a flat admission. “Ugh...”

  There was no reason for the three IS Academy students to know this, but it was the first step in the focus of Kagaribi Hikaruno’s current project: the Mass-Produced Akatsubaki Plan. But she’d been seen through. Not like it was difficult.

  “You’re twelve thousand years too early to sneak something like that by me,” Tabane chuckled smugly.

  “...If I may proceed?”

  “Ohh, of course, Chichan!” Tabane saw an opportunity to sneak a hug and dove in, only to be silenced by Chifuyu’s fist.

  “The mission will require the O.V.E.R.S.-equipped IS to link. In order to synchronize output levels, the Akatsubaki will be equipped with one as well,” Chifuyu went on. “Ms. Yamada and Kanzashi will provide backup. Dunois’s IS is still unstable, so for this mission she will be held in reserve on Earth along with Tatenashi.”

  ‘On Earth’ silenced the pilots.

  “The theater of operation will be...” Chifuyu pointed a finger straight up. “Space.”

  ◇

  “Haah... Haaah...” Ichika and Cecilia chased Chelsea through the crowded streets for nearly 20 minutes and were out of breath.

  “Wow, she’s fast.”

  “We’ve almost got her. This is a—”

  It was a dead end. Something which Chelsea knew as well.

  “Now we’ve got you.”

  Chelsea turned around slowly, a rapier in each hand.

 

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