Infinite Stratos, Volume 8, page 6
I stared blankly, now red up to the tips of my ears.
“Pervert!”
I stomped on his foot and, dropping his hand, ran up the stairs to my room on the second floor. Panting from the sudden exertion, I tried to catch my breath.
Showering together... I shouted silently, punching my pillow.
“Anyway!”
I needed to change! Focusing, I pulled open my underwear drawer. Which ones should I wear? What’s gonna... Gonna... T-turn him on? I looked at the panties I’d bought in preparation for today. There were definitely ‘date panties,’ but looking at them again, they really weren’t me.
But I can’t just stay in these either... I flipped up my skirt to compare with my current pair, white with green stripes. Yeah, these won’t work. The problem was, I had no confidence in my own figure. It’ll be fine! Ichika’s such a pervert, he won’t notice! I’ll be fine!
I decided to go ahead and change. Sliding my fingers under the waistband over my hips, I had just lowered my panties to my knees when my door clicked open.
“......?!?!”
“I’m done showering, Rin.”
“Wh-Wh-Wh...”
My butt was sticking out. My panties were around my knees. Ichika was looking at me from behind.
“EEEEEEEEEEK!”
Bam!
Crunch!
Thwack!
You idiot! You pervert! You creep! I completely lost control of myself, pummeling him until my hands hurt.
“Rin...”
“Eh? Ahh...”
Ichika caught my fist, gently lowering my arm, then spun me around. As he did, he embraced me from behind.
Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. The pounding of my heart was too loud to bear. It felt like it would tear apart. Not just my heart, my whole body.
“Rin,” Ichika whispered in my ear.
I shivered, and nervously asked back, “W-What?”
Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.
“I want you.”
KA-THUMP!
“Ah... Ahhhhhhh...”
“Rin...” He kissed the nape of my neck.
“Ahh... Ichika... I feel something hard poking me...”
Another kiss came—and this time his lips remained, sucking.
“You sure do.” Such a sweet whisper. My mind began to boil over.
“Rin. Let’s go to the bed.”
“Y-Yeah...”
He lifted me from behind, carrying me like a princess, and moved to my bed as easily as if I were a newborn kitten.
“I’m putting you down now.” He wove in another kiss to my neck.
“Nya...”
I couldn’t focus enough to move. My body burned as if it was on fire. Nothing could fit in my mind but thoughts of Ichika.
“Rin... You’re beautiful.”
“Mmm...!”
His fingers traced my collarbone, leaving trails as hot as any brand.
“Ichi... ka...”
“I’m taking your clothes off now.”
I swallowed nervously, nodding almost imperceptibly. Unbuttoning my sailor blouse, he gazed at my small breasts, covered by my bra.
“Don’t...”
Embarrassed, I tried to cover myself. Gently, but firmly, he brushed my arms away.
“You’re so cute, Rin.”
“Mmm...”
His tongue slid between my breasts, hotly yet tenderly, softly yet indecently. Ahhh... I’m such a dirty girl... Because I wanted more. Because I needed more.
“I’m taking your bra off.”
“Y-Yeah...”
I watched his fingers, near-hypnotized, and raised my body so he could slide them behind me.
Snap. The sound of my bra unhooking seemed to echo through the whole room. It hung limply around my body, but rather than lift it off, Ichika’s hands moved lower. I could feel the fire welling up in me, burning through my core, and only the gentle brush of his fingertips as they crept up my thighs could hold back that flood.
“Here too...”
“W-Wait...”
“No more waiting.” He slid my panties down, slowly, starting from one side.
“Ahhhhhh...”
We couldn’t. This was wrong. But we were... But it was oh so right.
“Ichika...” I closed my eyes, sighing his name. And then—
“You bastard! What are you doing to Rin?!”
My door slammed open. Standing there was... “I-Ichika?!”
Ichika was there, wearing a white uniform I’d never seen before. No, wait... That was an IS Academy uniform. But Ichika’s right here in front of me, how I’ve always wanted, in a world for us alone.
[WORLD PURGE ANOMALY. INTRUSION DETECTED. COMMENCE REMOVAL.]
“Eeeeeek!”
It hurt! It hurt it hurt it hurt! My head ached! Inside and out! Like it was splitting apart! I was gonna die! I was dying! Through the pain, I barely noticed the Ichika in a collared uniform in front of me slide away and leap toward the Ichika in IS Academy uniform as his eyes began to gleam. The whites of the first Ichika’s eyes faded to black, while his irises glowed a golden yellow.
“Executing order. Removing intruder.” His voice was flat. Ichika’s voice, still, but with utterly alien intonation.
Wait, wait, what is this?! What’s going on here?!
“Save me, Ichika!” I cried out. Suddenly, two strong arms wrapped around me.
“It’ll be okay. I’m here for you. Rin... I’ll protect you.”
Yes... Yes! Yes. It’s Ichika!
This was Ichika. The real Ichika. I could tell. Not in my head. Not in my gut. Not in my heart. In my very soul.
“Then...” I gritted my teeth to brace myself against the pain. “Get out of here, you fake!”
I opened the IS Shenlong and fired its impact cannon at full power. The fake Ichika crumbled like a stack of bricks. At the same time, the room began to fall apart around me.
“Rin! Let’s go!”
“Got it!”
We ran toward the door. Toward that embrace of light.
◇
“Where are we?”
“In a forest, it looks like.”
The door we’d just stepped out of evaporated into sparkles of light. Four more doors still stood, surreally, in the middle of the woods.
“Ah...”
“......?”
“Uh, Rin... Your clothes...”
“Huh?”
I turned to face away as Rin looked down in confusion.
“Eeeeeek!”
Yeah, I was afraid that was going to happen. Rin was still half-out of a middle school uniform, as the fake me had left her.
“I-Ichika!”
“Wait, wait! It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me! So don’t punch me or kick me or shoot me or—”
“—back on me.”
“Huh?”
“My clothes! Put them back on me!”
“Whaaa?!”
“Ugh! You took them off, didn’t you!”
“I told you, that wasn’t me!”
“B-But... It was like...” Tears suddenly sprang to her eyes. “It was... It was... Waaaahhhhh...”
“Uhh, umm...”
Rin suddenly began to sob. I hadn’t been expecting that, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Well, I guess... I couldn’t leave her like that.
“Rin.”
She took a moment to form words again. “...What?”
“Okay, okay. I’ll dress you. Come over here.”
“Eh... Ahh... Okay...”
The surprise had stopped her crying, at least. Nervously, she sidled over to me, holding out her bra.
“.........”
“.........”
This felt wrong. To distract myself, I tried to break the ice, “Y-Y’know, it feels like forever since I’ve seen you in this uniform!”
“Yeah! Yeah, it really takes me back! Ahahaha!”
All we could do to cut through the tension was embrace the surreality of it all. Nervously, but decisively, I took hold of her bra. As long as I don’t look too closely... Somehow, I got it back on her. From there, it was easy to button her blouse. The problem was further down.
“R-Rin? You can handle down there yourse—”
Without uttering a word, her eyes glistened with tears again. Oh, whatever! I don’t even care anymore!
“I’m going to have to touch your panties.”
Rin trembled gently. Kneeling down, I slid my hands up her skirt, trying not to look. If I can just get both sides...
Schlick.
“Waaaaait! W-W-What the hell are you doing?!”
“Quit complaining! I’m trying to do this without looking!”
“Hmph! You can go ahead and look! I don’t mind!” Rin reached down, grasped her hem, and stopped for a second. “I don’t mind... Because it’s you...”
“O-Okay...”
My heart pounded. Nervously, her hands shaking, she began to lift her skirt. The diagonal line of the waistband of her panties, one side pulled halfway down, was almost more suggestive than anything which could be under them.
“O-Okay.”
“.........”
“D-Don’t just go quiet on me...”
“I don’t think I can talk while doing this.” I was a bit harsh, and Rin blushed deeply.
We both fell silent. I was used to doing Chifuyu’s laundry, including her underwear, but this was the first time I’d touched a girl’s panties directly. I could hear my pulse pound in my ears.
It’s just Rin... It’s just Rin... It’s just Rin... Rin was... Rin was a classmate at IS Academy, and my second childhood friend.
“But is that all she is to you?” someone spoke. At least, I thought I heard someone. A girl I didn’t recognize. It sounded like she spoke from behind me, to the left.
“Rin.”
“Y-Yweah?!”
“I’m done.”
“Y-Yeah...”
We suddenly spun away from each other, facing opposite directions. Why were we being like this?
“Um!”
“......?!”
Kanzashi, concealed in the undergrowth, suddenly spoke up.
“Ka-Kanzashi...”
“Y-Y-You should have said something if you were there!”
“It didn’t seem like you’d appreciate being interrupted.”
“Ugh...” She stood up, the branches rustling around her. “Anyway, I’m going to take Ling out of here for now. She’s probably in no condition to continue the mission.”
“I can keep going!”
“No. It’s quite likely that your IS has been attacked as well. Let’s go back for now.”
Rin nodded reluctantly and said, “Okay...”
“Anyway, then. Ichika, go after the others.”
“Got it. Oh, Kanzashi! Hold on a second!”
“......?”
“There’s a leaf in your hair. There, got it.” I plucked out the leaf I’d noticed. “Your hair’s so pretty. It’d be a shame to leave it messy like that.”
“Ah—”
She looked at the ground, fidgeting. What was up with her?
“Oh! I know! I should test-fire my impact cannon. You know, make sure it’s working fine!” Rin suddenly spoke up, a bit too loudly for comfort.
“Wait, what’s gotten into you, Rin?”
“Oh, nothing at all!”
She was definitely extremely mad about something. About to burst into a rage, it seemed like.
“All right, see you later then!”
“Wait, hold it! Ichika!” If all else fails, retreat. “I’ll teach you a lesson when you get back, Ichika!”
I fled, not through a door, but deeper into the woods.
◇
“Phew...”
My name is Cecilia Alcott. The young master of Alcott and Company, England’s largest trading firm. With my day’s work in my luxuriously-furnished office complete, I rang an order-made platinum bell.
Ding-a-ling... Its tone was delicate, almost ephemeral. No more than three seconds later, a door opened.
“You called, President.”
Entering was a dark-haired young man, seemingly born wearing his jacket and waistcoat. My own butler for so many years—Orimura Ichika. I had wanted to greet him with joy on my face, but I couldn’t help but frown for a moment.
“My work for the day is over...”
“Ah, my apologies, Madam.” Ichika bowed stiffly. But that wasn’t what I had meant, either.
“How often do I have to tell you? We’re alone.”
“Haha. I’m sorry, Cecilia.”
We were so familiar, after all this time, that he occasionally showed a bit of cheek. But the twinkle in his eye as he did excused it, at least for me. Yes. The Orimuras have been the Alcotts’ faithful servants for generations, and he’s been by my side since—
Wait, by my side? Who had been by my side?
[COMMENCE WORLD PURGE.]
—Ah, yes! Ichika! As my servant, and perhaps, someday, as my companion. Thus, when alone, we could put aside the formalities. Sometimes it all feels rather unbefitting. But it pleased me all the same; as if we shared a world walled off from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Were it but a dream, I should prefer not to awaken, but rather to remain submerged for all eternity.
[WORLD PURGE COMPLETE.]
“......?”
“What is it, Cecilia?”
“Did you speak, Ichika?”
“Not a word.”
“Ah. Very well.”
Today was a quite special Thursday. My heart leapt at the secret relief which awaited me. No worries. I passed on the cake yesterday. Concealing my excitement, I followed Ichika’s lead to the bath on the ground floor, passing under a grandiose chandelier on the way. I could feel my heart throb.
“In five minutes.”
“Of course. And which aroma would you prefer today?”
“I leave it to your own judgment.”
With an elegant wink, I closed the door. Surrounded by handmade luxuries, I scattered my clothes on the floor. Ichika would be along later to pick them up. Very well, then. Laying my earrings and pendant on a table, I was as bare as the day I was born. The steam of a clawfoot bathtub, already drawn full, welcomed me further into the room. My favorite day of the week.
Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Turning a knob, I let the warm water wash over me along with my excitement.
“May I enter, Cecilia?”
Ka-thump! It was Ichika’s voice from outside the door. Calmly, I turned the shower off and answered with an even voice, “At your leisure.”
Click. The sound of the door opening was followed by the patter of Ichika’s bare feet on the tile, as my face glowed red. Yes. The day of the week that Ichika bathes me... Naturally, he was blindfolded.
After adding the salts to the bath, Ichika finally stepped behind me.
“I’m truly sorry for the wait, Cecilia.”
“O-Of course...”
Embarrassed, I couldn’t turn around. If he were to not be blindfolded... The mere thought of it was enough to send my mind racing, and I snuck a peek backward. Ah, but he is. It was at once reassuring and disappointing. He was, as usual, simply in shirt and trousers.
“Shall I begin bathing you, Cecilia?”
“A-As you will.”
I had barely a moment to be ashamed of my timidness before I felt the already-foamy exfoliating sponge brush against my back. Ah... With gentle strokes, relaxing me, he washed my back. As usual, his hands at first stroked the nape of my neck before moving lower. It feels so wonderful when he washes my hips...
I was proud of my figure, naturally. Proud enough, even, to put aside cake. He’s almost there... I felt Ichika’s hand softly brush my bottom. Not the sponge, but his bare hand, with only a thin layer of lather. My cheeks glowed a brilliant crimson as I sunk into the utmost luxury. It may be embarrassing, but it feels so sublime...
As I let out a sigh, he whispered in my ear, “Cecilia, has your bottom gotten bigger?”
“It very much has not!”
Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.
“Ah, but you’re filling out so nicely here.” His fingertips cupped around my rear.
“Ah!”
“I suppose I should arrange for alterations with your tailor.”
“I-It can’t be any—”
“I know. But it’s such a pleasure to make sure.” With that, he nibbled at my earlobe. Shocked at his sudden forwardness, I curled up in the bath.
“I-Ichika...”
“Shall I wash your front next?”
“Ah......”
I paused for a moment, then, nervously, nodded.
◇
“I can’t get these doors open, Kanzashi.”
I pounded on the four doors in the clearing. But no matter how hard I shoved or kicked, they wouldn’t budge.
“I knew it! Someone had to have locked them after you got Ling out.”
I was so stunned by Kanzashi’s sudden firm conviction that I couldn’t do much more than smile and nod as she continued, “Whoever it is knows there are two Ichikas in there, and that’s extremely dangerous.”
“So what do I do about it?”
“You’ll have to change skins.”
“Huh?”
“If you change skins, you can get in.”
“.........” As I stood there in shock, Kanzashi continued irritatedly, “I wasn’t joking.”
“O-Oh. Understood. I believe you.”
“Good.”
“So what do I do?”
“Hold on a minute. I’ll rewrite your clothing data.”
I could hear the clatter of mechanical keys over our connection. Soon, I began to glow.
“Wait—”
“Data install... Complete.”
“What is this?”
I was in black from head to toe, with a gas mask strapped to my face. From one shoulder hung a submachine gun.
“Her Majesty’s Special Air Service battle dress.”
‘Her Majesty’s’... This must be Cecilia, then.
“I feel like I’m in a movie or something.”
“Oh my God, you look so cool.”
“Wait, what?”
“Ahem! Nothing.”
I gave the blue door’s knob another try. With a click, it opened before me.
“Here I go.”
“Be careful. You may be attacked by another fake you.”
“W-What?!”
I pulled back the bolt on the submachine gun and slapped my magazine pouch to make sure it was full.
