Infinite Stratos - Volume 2, page 6
With that, the cockpit's stuck on top like how it was just now.
"Ahh! Wh, what were you doing!?"
"It's not that, the other girls are staring at me so strongly..."
"Wh-What?"
"Ahem...that's my personal problem."
Adding on, she was obviously referring to the other girls in her group when she said that, as everyone's giving her a 'do you think that you can just earn that benefit like that' look. Wow, that's really scary.
All the other girls in other groups are opening their mouths in envy, looking like chicks waiting for a mother to feed them.
However, what awaited them wasn't a reward, but a stern treatment by the instructor from hell.
"Oh, so you still have time to look at other places, right? To reward you of your boredom, I'll let you run 20 laps around the field. How is it? Are you satisfied?"
"Tha-Thank you sensei..."
The instructor from hell can also cry. No wait, those should be the reflection of other people's tears in the devil's eyes.
"Ahh--...so I have to send someone up again? Huh, who's next?"
Ichika looks really bothered as he scratched his head and looks around.
--Ahem, after clearing her throat to ready her feelings, Houki tries to act calm as she says,
"Me."
"O-Okay."
Seeing Ichika's shocked look, Houki wants to back away, but she knows that she has even more reason not to panic. Maybe it's due to the pride of practising kendo, as Houki's expression remains unchanged while she steps forward.
"Huh--, so."
"What? Hurry up and get me up! I don't really want this, but considering the safety reasons, this can't be helped."
Though Houki wants to emphasize that it can't be helped, Ichika still considered her feelings and thought that it's because of another thing altogether.
"Then, I'll be a stepping board--"
"Didn't I say that this can't be helped due to safety reasons?"
"--I'll send you over, I'll send you over."
Aah, really, what in the world. Though Ichika muttered so, Houki's not listening.
Because no matter what, he's going to carry her. And seeing how he carried the girl just now--
(Is-Isn't that the legendary 'princess carry'...!? But, what should I say...great...no! Logically speaking, boys and girls shouldn't be sticking that close together!... But forget about it, considering the safety reasons, this can't be helped...that's right, this can't be helped!)
"Ah, ahem!"
"What's wrong, Houki? Got a cold?"
"No, nothing."
Anyway, Houki, who was so happy that she wanted to laugh out is trying her best to hold her emotions back. Perhaps it's due to that strong emotion of holding back that strong emotion that her face's looking twice as serious as usual.
"I'm carrying you up then!"
Ichika wraps his arm around her waist, and it looks like it's happening in slow motion. As his hand reaches over, Houki's heart starts to beat faster, and her body temperature begins to increase.
"Heyo!"
"Kya--ahem ahem!"
She nearly shouted out, but she coughed even forcefully twice to hide this.
(I-Id-Idiot! Who in the world carries someone so suddenly like that!? Is, is he trying to scare me...speaking of which, it feels like he's so well-trained...)
Being mindful, she looks up at Ichika's face, and at that moment, Ichika seem to notice it as he looks around.
"What's wrong?"
"No-Nothing! Nothing at all!"
As their faces are even closer than what she thought, Houki frantically looks away.
What she was mindful about just now has been all forgotten. Right now, she's more bothered by Ichika.
The body warmth of those strong arm muscles, and the breathing and heartbeat of hers that she worries about showing to him if they get too close--those are feelings of expectations and anxiety.
"Houki."
"Wh-What?"
"Nothing. I'm telling you to hold tight, or you'll fall off!"
"O-Okay...that, that's right. It's over if I drop. I have no choice but to grab onto Ichika."
After repeating another 'have no choice', Houki timidly reaches out and slings her arms around Ichika. As the IS suit is a skintight design, once her fingers touch Ichika's skin, Houki's heart start to pound faster.
(It, it's like I just touched him directly--KYA! WHAT AM I THINKING!?)
Ichika stares at Houki with an incredulous look while she continues to shake her head violently, bringing her up near to the [Uchigane]'s cockpit.
"Houki."
"Wh-What?"
"Well, if you don't sit in onto the IS, we can't continue with the practical class. Do you mind if I bring you closer in?"
"No, no! If you bring me closer in, even I can't remain calm--"
"? What did you say?"
"No-Nothing! An-Anyway, I'm okay!"
Like what Houki said, she pushes her hand away from Ichika and quickly sits inside the Uchigane.
"Doesn't look like there's anything wrong. Then after you finish the activation and walking, please hand over to--"
"Ichika."
"Hm? What is it?"
"We-Well you see, do you have plans for lunch today?"
Though she's acting calm, her voice's obviously a bit louder than usual.
"No, not that I know of."
"Oh, really?"
Seemingly looking like she just randomly asked, Houki's expression immediately lit up, but only for a few seconds as she reverts back to her cool expression.
"If, if that's the case, how about we have lunch together once in a while! Hm, just like that."
"Hm? Ohh, I guess it's sounds nice."
Houki continues to say as she activates the [Uchigane] before making it walk. This process isn't draggy, and it feels like some kendo movement.
However, while Houki looks like a samurai who's trained before, she's actually overwhelmed with joy. She hid her feelings though, so of course Ichika doesn't know.
"There's no problem! As expected of Houki! Okay then, please bend over and come down--"
"..."
"HEY! WHY IS THE IS STANDING AGAIN!? ARRGHH! I'M GOING CRAZY!"
Before hearing Ichika's words, Houki quickly landed. Of course, she knew she has to let the IS bend down, but she still can't refuse the silent demand of the girls in her group.
However, a more accurate reason would be because she's feeling so happy that 'it doesn't matter even if she gives the other girls a little welfare'.
(Ev-Ever since that day, I never had a chance to talk to Ichika properly. I have to do whatever it takes to get it back!)
To be honest, she does have a secret plan.
Anyway, having gained an advantage over the other girls (or so she thought), Houki's mood is as great as ever.
◇
"Then, that's it for morning practice. As we have to inspect the machines that're used in the morning, all groups please gather at the hangar. All people with personal machines please watch out for the training machines and their own. Then, class dismissed."
Our combined group of class 1 and 2 barely managed to complete the activation test. After everyone managed to hurriedly move the IS to the hangar, they returned back to the field. As time was really short, everyone's moving about crazily. At this moment, if we're late, I don't know what the instructor from hell will say.
And after we huffed and puffed till we finished all of that, Chifuyu-nee and Yamada-sensei quickly left the scene.
"Ah--...never expected it to be so heavy..."
Though the training machines were delivered by IS escort vehicles, there's nothing to move this. In other words, 'humans' are the moving forces, and in this group, obviously, I'm the main person pushing. All the girls think that manual work has to be done by guys, and even if there're some people who don't think that way, right now, the men have almost no right to say that. It's that kind of a culture now.
(But if I, a guy, don't push it and call the girls to do it, wouldn't it be too shameful instead of weird. I'll do it anyway.)
On a side note, Charles's group is having a situation when 'how can we let Dunois-kun do this!' as they have several sports-group girls transport it.--huh? Hold on? Why's the attitude different from my group...
"Sigh, forget about it Charles. Go change now! We still need to get to the changing room at the arena."
"Huh, erm...I'll go after I adjust the suit, so you go first. I may need to take some time, so it's okay not to wait for me."
"Hm? No, I'm okay with waiting for you, you know? I'm used to it--"
"No, no no non, there's no need! I have a problem! Is it alright? Can you head back to the classroom?"
"O-Okay, I got it."
Under his ridiculous pressure, I inadvertently nodded my head. But why's the chap so desperate?
Anyway, since he said so, there's no point waiting for him, so I quickly headed towards the changing room.
(The IS suit sweat absorbing function is working almost perfectly. Despite operating for quite a while, it is generally amazing that it is completely not sticky.)
I don't know whether it's because it's developed for space, but even if I'm not certain, I'll treat it as the case.
Alright, finished changing. It's 3 times easier to take it off than to wear it. I use my towel to rub my head and leave the changing room.
◇
"...What is this."
"Hm?"
During lunchtime, all of us are at the roof.
Normally speaking, a high school's roof access will be sealed off due to many reasons, but this IS Academy has no such rules—on the garden that's decorated beautifully, as the seasonal flowers bloom, the floor's of a stone cold floor that makes people think that they're in Europe. As all the round tables have chairs, on a bright sunny afternoon like this, there would normally be many girls waiting around here to talk.
Maybe everyone ran to the cafeteria to look for Charles? There's no one here to occupy the space other than us! Yay, we have the entire place!
"Didn't I tell you that I want to come up here to eat since the weather's good?"
"That's not what I'm referring to...!"
Houki glances aside to look at Cecilia, Rin and Charles.
"Since we're having lunch, the more the merrier, isn't it? Besides, Charles just transferred in, so he doesn't even know where to eat."
"Th-That's true..."
Uu. Houki looks like she wants to say something as she clenches her raised fist. She's holding some home-made bento that's wrapped into a cloth.
As the IS Academy is a boarding school, it seems like they open the kitchen early for the students who want to prepare their own bentos. I went there to look, and found that there were all sorts of utensils that expert chefs would use. As expected of a specially designated school that's controlled directly by the government, the spending's on a completely different level.
--And then, Houki looks like she just made a bento today, and even had my share! Childhood friends are really wonderful.
"Here, Ichika. This is for you."
After saying that, Rin throws the container to me. Hey, don't throw food.
"Wow, it's sweet and sour pork!"
"Yup, I made it this morning! Didn't you say that you wanted to eat it?"
Let me repeat it again, childhood friends are the best! However, to have sweet and sour pork without white rice, that's a daring innovation! Let me add on, Rin did go to the cafeteria to buy the white rice she wanted to buy here. She's smart.
"Ahem—Ichika-san. For some reason, I woke up earlier as well, so I prepared some things as well. If you like, please try some."
Cecilia opens her basket. There's a stack of neatly arranged sandwiches, however...
"Th-Thanks, I'll eat it later."
I timidly responded. On a side note, Rin's giving a 'wow' expression. Che, this person is either thinking of eating it herself or watching a show.
"What's wrong?"
"No, nothing!"
...Let's just put it this way. This English representative candidate Cecilia Alcott just can't cook—though it looks tasty, the food's just bad. Why must she just add stuff that she doesn't know of? I really, really wanted to seriously ask her, but right now, I don't have any intention to do so. For some reason, I felt that things would get out of hand if I asked. Why?
Well, I guess, since she's from a prominent family, I guess all rich ojous[2B 6] are like this? She should more or less have a personal chef, so she probably never even tried to choose her ingredients, let alone touch a knife.
Even so, the appearance is great. She herself noted 'shouldn't it be done like how it's like on the book?'. Hm, Cecilia-san, that's not making it like 'how the book describes it', but 'how the photograph describes it'. I really think that it'll be great if you can make it as tasty as how it's described on the book.
"It's because you never said it clearly that the problem continued to persist. Id—iot."
And you dare to say that, Rin. I had the same feelings when you came up with those killer dishes for me. You even had that 'I'll kill you if you say it's not nice!' look!
Oh well, let's forget about that for now. Either way, she did personally prepare this for me, and if possible, I really don't want to say that it tastes bad. Besides, I'm really grateful for the intention. Besides, since I had to cook my own food before I entered IS Academy City, I'm already grateful that someone can cook for me. Ahh, it would be great if Chifuyu-nee had the same thoughts.
But even so, it still doesn't change the fact that I'm lying. Sigh...
"Huh? Can I really eat together with everyone?"
Sitting beside me, Charles said so. It was the same just now. I'm really bothered by the extent of politeness he's showing.
To be honest, a large number of girls gathered in front of class 1-1 in order to get the 2nd guy, but he managed to refuse them with an extremely polite attitude. Maybe Charles's polite rich boy demeanour caused the girls to feel really awkward if they push on with their self-introductions. Thus, everyone gave up with a happy yet bothered look. Besides, he said,
"I can't let you girls waste your bright sunny time for someone like me. That's because I'll get drunk from such a sweet aroma surrounding me."
And so that's the case.
What should I say? He's amazing. Really, that's what I think, because he's not even acting at all. That sincere attitude of his and the atmosphere that's shining even more brightly that the mysterious presence caused his words to seem even more shining. Besides that, he's really gentle, so it was all the more irresistible. The 3rd year sempai who shook hands with him immediately fainted!
Anyway, the girls gave up just like that, which was why I got him along to eat with us. Though Rin and Cecelia came along, I had no reason to refuse them. It's better to have more people together, right? Since they're both representative candidates, I'm sure they should be able to chat happily about it.
On a side note, strictly speaking, I'm not a representative candidate, I guess. As I'm a guy, I don't know whether this breaks the Alaska Treaty, as it looks like the international community's debating over it.
As for me, I don't really care whether I'm a representative candidate, but it's great to have a personal machine. I once accompanied Houki when she went to request one for loan, and the paperwork alone nearly made me faint. Those are like, maybe 10 or so pieces of A4 paper? What's the point of writing so much...
"Don't say that. We're guys, so let us get along well. I know there are many inconveniences, but I can help out as well! If you have any problems, just ask me...except for IS."
"You have to work hard."
"I am. There's too much to remember! You already practiced through before you enrolled in, right!?"
"That's true. Though one should have considered about the suitability test, even if there are those who start late, everyone did start studying during middle school."
That seems to be the case. On a side note, Rin started working hard after the 3rd year of Middle School before she had her own personal machine. I really can't imagine how hard she worked.
In terms of the mock battle winning percentage, Rin's 1st, Cecilia's 2nd, Houki's 3rd and I'm last.
"Thanks, Ichika's really kind."
*THOMP!* *THOMP!*
Though I know that he's a guy, I really have a strange feeling on seeing that defenseless smile of his.
"It, it's alright. Since we're roommates, that's just a formality, just a formality."
"Ichika-san, has he been assigned a room?"
"Well, no, but frankly speaking, he would definitely be assigned in my room. He's a guy anyway."
"Really? Well, I guess so, that makes sense."
We continue to eat lunch as we talk. Rin and I are eating sweet and sour pork, Charles is eating bread that he bought, and it seems like Cecilia bought her own share. This means that the sandwiches were meant to be eaten by me.
In the midst of all these, Houki, who's sitting beside me, hasn't moved her chopsticks at all, or I should say, hasn't even opened the cloth that's wrapped around the bento as she remains silent.
"What's wrong? Is your stomach feeling weird?"
"That's not it..."
"Really? Oh yeah, Houki. If you could hurry up and give me that bento, I would be really happy--"
"..."
Houki silently passed the bento over, and I really don't know how to respond. In the end, even though we were on the same practical group, it doesn't look like the relationship improved. Or rather, it seems like she's still angry, is it...?
"Let's get to it. Oh!"
Opening the bento, I see many dishes with balanced nutrition--including salted grilled salmon, deep-fried chicken, chilli fried konjac burdock, spinach and sesame salad.
"That's amazing! Each dish looks like it took a lot of work."
"I, I just had other reasons. I spent time on it so that I could eat it myself anyway."
"Even so, I'm happy. Thank you, Houki."
"Heh, hehe..."
Even though she looks like she doesn't mind, Houki still looks rather happy as she opens her bento. Of course, her dishes are similar to mine...hold on.
"Houki, why doesn't your bento have any fried chicken?"
