Infinite Stratos - Volume 8, page 9
“Kyaahhh!!”
“What—GUAH!”
“D-Don’t look! Ichika no ecchi!”
Charl covers my eyes with her hands; for some reason, she’s not wearing the IS Academy uniform, but the sexy lingerie she was wearing in that world just now.
“Wh-wh-why?”
“Cecilia changed into her uniform just now.”
“Didn’t I tell you not to look!”
I’m poked in my eyes.
“GYAAAHHH!!”
“Ahh!? So-sorry! But, that, you told me to wear this, Ichika, and you told me to take it off…”
“Th-that’s why…it’s the fake…”
“Are you trying to escape with this excuse?"
What do you mean by escape…that’s the truth.
“No, that’s why, well, Charl.”
Anyway, I let her put on the mantle, and then check her expression as I think of a way to appease her.
“Y-your cute face will be wasted if you get so angry.”
“…”
Argh, I failed.
Charl puffs her cheeks and turns her back at me.
“…A date.”
“Y-yes?”
I respond to this teeny-weeny voice, and Charl then turns around while covering herself with the mantle.
“I want a date! I’ll forgive you if you promise me that we’ll have a date at a theme park!”
“O-okay. If it’s a theme park, let’s go with everyone—”
“I want to go alone!”
She stares at me without looking away, tears still in her eyes.
(Uu…how can I refuse when you’re giving me such an expression…)
I reluctantly give up on resisting, and nod.
“I’ll promise you…but I’ll need to get a deposit first.”
“Eh, you really agree? Really?”
“Didn’t you ask for it, Charl?”
“Eh? Ah, yes, that’s how it is…”
Charl’s expression’s glowing as she puts her hands on her reddened cheeks.
“…I succeeded. Right, I asked for it, ehehe.”
She seems to be in a better mood, so I can relax for now.
“Let’s leave this world first then. I’ll send you out.”
“There’s no…need”
Kanzashi appears from the forest just like before.
“I’ll…send her out…”
“O-okay.”
Her voice seems to have some fury in it, and I find it a little difficult to argue back.
“Anyway, Charlotte’s…uniform download…complete.”
Charl’s immediately surrounded by light, and she changes back to her usual IS Academy Uniform outfit.
“I’ll be going out then, Ichika. Don’t forget the promise.”
Charl’s being abnormally energetic, and she walks to the outside of the forest with light steps.
Kanzashi whispers to me something before she heads off after Charl,
“Biased...”
“Wh-what!? No, that’s not it. I’m not—”
But Kanzashi has already looked away.
“…”
I’m left alone, and scratch my head while not knowing what’s going on.
“It’s great that you can see her smiling face again.”
…Am I hallucinating? I think I hear something, and yet it doesn’t feel that way.
Anyway,
“Two more doors. Laura and Houki, huh?”
A thought pops up in my mind, telling me there are two more troublesome—no, two people in huge trouble.
“Anyway, I can only go on!”
I motivate myself and rummage through the clothes case.
◇
My name’s Laura Bodewig.
The commander of the German Special Forces ‘Black Hares’, and currently—
“World Purge, complete.”
—And now, I’m a groom loving my ‘wife’ who I married two months ago.
I used the salary given by the army to buy a house as our love nest. It does feel a little too large for 2 people, but considering the future, this isn’t inappropriate
“Hm…”
I lay the newspaper out on the living room table, waiting for breakfast.
“The situation in the Middle East is changing. Will it affect my Germany—”
“Laura, didn’t I tell you not to read the newspaper when you’re eating?”
“Y-yes. Sorry.”
My wife said this as he serves the hot cocoa with lots of milk in it.
(Such a capable ‘bride’)
I’m nodding away in my heart.
On a side note, the wife’s called Orimura Ichika.
“Laura, the omelet rice’s done.”
I receive the omelet rice that’s soft on the inside, filled with love, and look at Ichika again.
He’s dressed in an apron, and is the ‘bride’ I’m proud of.
“Oh yes, Ichika, actually, I…”
Ahem. I cough, and change the topic.
“I have a special vacation today, so, well…”
“We can spend the entire day alone?”
“U-um.”
I’m a little embarrassed, while Ichika’s face immediately lit up.
“In that case, let’s hurry and use these.”
“Th-those are!”
Those are the 5 ‘satisfy any wish coupons’ we obtained from each other on our wedding anniversary.
I look at my familiar handwriting, and a stronger sense of embarrassment rises in him.
(He must be thinking of whatever ‘wish’ he wants, that damned Ichika…)
I cosplayed as a Gothic Lolita the last time.
What does he want me to do this time? A nurse?
“Laura, be my healing angel…”
A-a maid, maybe?
“Call me Master…”
Or maybe a bunny girl?
“You’re a cute bunny-chan, my Laura…”
…
“Laura? Laura?”
“Eh? What is it?”
“You’re nosebleeding.”
Ichika mentions this and wipes my face with his handkerchief.
“I can do it myself! Yes!”
“Yes yes.”
“Just say ‘yes’ once.”
“Let’s not talk about that, Laura. Say ahh.”
…Gulp.
(Waah, Ichika’s omelet rice melts in my mouth~ ♪)
—Eh, now’s not the time to indulge in such happiness!
“Ichika!”
“Yes.”
“Wh-what kind of wish did you make?”
I stand up without further thought, and Ichika smiles as he points out my fault.
“Okay okay, just calm down. Being anxious is a flaw a commander mustn’t have, right?”
“U-um…that’s right.”
I sit down again, take a bite of toast, filled my mouth with salad, and take a gulp of cocoa.
“A naked apron then.”
—Bfftt!!
“Ack, ack ack!...Wh-what!?”
“My wish is for you to try being in a naked apron, Laura.”
“Y-yo-you idiot! Who’ll do such a thing!?”
I poke my head over the table and close in on Ichika.
Only to be attacked by with a kiss on the forehead.
Chuu.
“Ahh…”
“Please, Laura♪”
“U…um…”
…
……
……..
“I-Is this alright?”
My voice is devoid of force, and I hesitantly walk out of the living room.
I have only an eyepatch and an apron on me, and I’m so embarrassed here.
I pull the cloth in front of me, hoping to cover even a little bit of cloth, but Ichika gives an uncompromising stare at my body lovingly.
“Uu…”
“You’re very cute, Laura.”
“What, shut up shut up!”
Ichika says with a very gentle voice, seemingly wanting to raise my embarrassment.
“Then, since it’s rare to see you wear an apron, how about you cook?”
“Wh-what!?”
“Your cuteness will increase this way, Laura.”
“Ugh…!”
I can’t resist when Ichika describes me as ‘cute’.
I hate myself for my stupidity and small stature…but I love it.
(I’m…a weak woman.)
Once I recognize this dissatisfaction in my mind, it becomes delight again.
“If you dare do anything funny…I won’t forgive you.”
“What weird thing?”
“Anyway! Those, well…perverted…hump! Don’t make me say it!”
Bump! I hit Ichika in the abdomen, and walk to the kitchen.
“It hurts…Laura.”
“What is it?”
“Your butt’s cute♪”
My bare area was being fondled at.
My mind’s boiling, and I swing a punch back hard at Ichika..
But Ichika gently stops my fist, and then hugs me from behind nonchalantly.
“You’re so cute, Lura.”
“T-this! Stop it, you idiot…ahh!”
He touch the apron covering my breasts.
Once I show a response from the sensitive part, Ichika whispers an intoxicatingly sweet and lewd line at my ears.
“…Let’s play on like this today.”
“Wh-what?”
“Let’s play kissy kissy.”
Chuu! A kiss is engraved on my shoulder.
(I-I-I-I—)
My mind’s all dizzy now.
Ahh, but, but,
(Maybe it’s not so bad…to go with the flow like this…)
Just when I was lost in my thoughts of paradise, a growl suddenly rang.
“Goodness me, why in the world is everyone having such dreams!?”
There’s a suspicious person dressed in full silver armor opening the door and entering.
“Who are you!?”
I grab the chopper from where I am and throw it at the armored man.
DANG! The chopper lands right at the chest with a loud sound…but it’s shallow.
“A-ar-are you trying to kill me!?”
“Of course. Those who get in the way of Ichika and my relationship shall all die!”
I rush out from Ichika’s embrace and charge in low at the armored man.
“Hah!”
“!”
I land a sharp fatal kick at the gap of the armor.
And I felt the opponent’s bones let out a creak.
“Gurk!”
The armored man kneel down on his knees. I forcefully pull out the chopper from his chest, and quickly placed it at his neck.
“It’s over. Die.”
“Do your best, Laura.”
I suddenly hear Ichika cheering me from behind, and my heart flutters.
“O-of course. It’s decided—”
“You bastard…making Laura fight in your stead.”
The armored man stands up with quite the momentum.
I hurriedly draw back the chopper and slash at the armored man, but the slash feels shallow.
“Move aside, Laura.”
“Do your best, Laura.”
There are two Ichika voices, coming from both front and back.
(I-I-I…)
The armored man pushes aside me as I’m feeling lost, and draws the sword at his waist.
“GOOOO!”
“Do your best, Laura.”
ZAK! Ichika’s stabbed through the chest by the chest.
His heart should be pierced through completely, but he’s not letting out a single drop of blood.
And also, he’s repeating the same line over and over again like a broken recorder.
“Do your best, Laura.”
He just continues, and continues.
“Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura.”
He just keeps on repeating this line over and over again.
“Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura.”
The ‘do your best’ soon becomes ‘fight’.
(I-I-I’m born, to fight…)
“Wh-what kind of joke is THIIIISSSS!!”
The armored man slams Ichika into the wall, and raised the sword used to stab him.
Even as his brain was split in two, he continues on,
“Do your…best…Lau…ra, fig…ht…on…kill…kill…”
A-ah, ah—
“Uwahh! N-no…. No…no! I’m not a fighting ma…”
“Laura!”
The armored man takes off his armor.
He removes his helmet, and a familiar face appears in front of me—
“It’s alright, Laura. You’re yourself, and irreplaceable. You don’t have to fight against your will.”
“Ahh…Ichika…”
I’m surrounded by that warm embrace, and lose my consciousness.
◇
“Alright…”
Once we return to the forest, I let the sleeping Laura in my clutches land on the field so that she can continue sleeping.
I suppose the fact that she’s sleeping soundly is proof that she’s having a good nap, and I can’t find anything wrong with her.
“Just like a sleeping beauty.”
I touch her nose.
“She really looks cute like this.”
I too sit beside Laura at her waist, and look at the sky without minding her at all.
“But why is it that all their dreams includes me?”
“Let me answer this.”
A head popped out from the lush forest, and I didn’t need to think to know it’s Kanzashi.
“Do-don’t scare me like that…”
“Yes…”
She nods and reverts back to her usual passive mode as she walks out from the forest.
“You have a lot of leaves on you…guess there’s no choice.”
I pick the leaves one by one off Kanzashi, and her face is red for some reason.
“Do you know how the enemy’s attacking us?”
“Yes, I guess the enemy’s...connects directly to its attack targets in a neural way…this method turns the attacked’s inner wishes and desires to become reality, blocks off stimulation from the outside way, and cause some sort of psychological effect…the intention is to—”
Upon hearing Kanzashi say this, Laura immediately sat up to cut her off.
“Wh-what are you saying, you?Y-yo-you’re saying this is my wish!? K-kn-kno-know your place!”
Laura’s embarrassed in an interesting manner, and I start to tidy up her silky hair that’s messed by the wind.
“Good morning, sleeping beauty.”
“S-sl-sleep-sleeping beauty!? I-i-Ichika, you…!”
Laura’s about to leap and snare my neck, but Kanzashi puts her hands on Laura’s head to stop her.
“Your face…is really red.”
“WHA!?”
“In other words…”
“We were right…”
“Th-that’s not it! Definitely not! Ab-about getting married happiy! About however a nice family! About having 3 children! I-I have to fulfill my responsibilities as a soldier since I’m often on the battlefield—”
“Laura.”
Stop. I pat her on the head gently.
“How about you go back to rest?”
“Y-yes…”
I stroke Laura’s silky hair, and the feeling on my fingers really soothes me.
Just when I was enjoying myself here, Kanzashi suddenly coughed dryly.
“…Ack…ack!”
I feel that it’s a little pitiful, but I draw my hand away from Laura’s head.
“…Then, I’ll…be going back.”
“Oh, be careful.”
“I-Ichika, I have something to say to you once you return.”
“Hm?”
“An-anyway, forget about everything today! This is an order!”
Yes! I give Laura a salute, and bid farewell to her.
Then, I look at the last door.
I wonder what kind of dream does that swordsman nadeshiko[10] have?
“…Right, better not go then.”
I can feel a strong killing intent.
“I’m joking, just joking. Ahahaha.”
I rummaged through the clothes case, and found a nice set of clothing I can use.
“—Let’s go then.”
I open the last door.
◇
My name’s Shinonono Houki.
I’m Ichika’s childhood friend, and also his senior at the dojo.
Right now, I’m in IS Academy—
“World Purge………………………… complete.”
Right now, I’m living together with Ichika at the Shinonono shrine.
I’m the miko of this shrine, and also teach the kids kendo in the dojo here.
“998…999…1000!”
I finished my strokes, and wipe away the sweat on my forehead.
“You’ve worked hard for morning training, Houki.”
Ichika said this as he appears, and hands me a towel.
He’s dressed in hakama, and this black piece of clothing really suits him.
“Are you starting now?
“No, I finished my strokes one hour ago. I’m going for a run now.”
“Is that so…then, the two of us can go together—”
“Nn?”
“No, it’s nothing! Nothing at all!”
“Is that so? Let’s have breakfast then. It’s your favorite carrot miso soup today.”
“U, um.”
I was led into the main house by Ichika, who’s showing a smiling look on his face.
◇
(It’s weird…)
In this computer world that’s filled with both light and darkness, the ‘enemy’ attacking IS Academy is silently thinking about something.
(The ‘world purge’ effects on Shinonono Houki is a little weak…why is it…?)
But it’s not completely ineffective.
She has finished ‘isolating her from the real world’.
(…)
But it just seems rather out of place.
The girl thought of the uneasy feeling, and reached her destination.
In this world, the dimensions were vague, void of any roads; after walking for a while, she finally saw the core of this world—an ice sculpture of a world.
“What—GUAH!”
“D-Don’t look! Ichika no ecchi!”
Charl covers my eyes with her hands; for some reason, she’s not wearing the IS Academy uniform, but the sexy lingerie she was wearing in that world just now.
“Wh-wh-why?”
“Cecilia changed into her uniform just now.”
“Didn’t I tell you not to look!”
I’m poked in my eyes.
“GYAAAHHH!!”
“Ahh!? So-sorry! But, that, you told me to wear this, Ichika, and you told me to take it off…”
“Th-that’s why…it’s the fake…”
“Are you trying to escape with this excuse?"
What do you mean by escape…that’s the truth.
“No, that’s why, well, Charl.”
Anyway, I let her put on the mantle, and then check her expression as I think of a way to appease her.
“Y-your cute face will be wasted if you get so angry.”
“…”
Argh, I failed.
Charl puffs her cheeks and turns her back at me.
“…A date.”
“Y-yes?”
I respond to this teeny-weeny voice, and Charl then turns around while covering herself with the mantle.
“I want a date! I’ll forgive you if you promise me that we’ll have a date at a theme park!”
“O-okay. If it’s a theme park, let’s go with everyone—”
“I want to go alone!”
She stares at me without looking away, tears still in her eyes.
(Uu…how can I refuse when you’re giving me such an expression…)
I reluctantly give up on resisting, and nod.
“I’ll promise you…but I’ll need to get a deposit first.”
“Eh, you really agree? Really?”
“Didn’t you ask for it, Charl?”
“Eh? Ah, yes, that’s how it is…”
Charl’s expression’s glowing as she puts her hands on her reddened cheeks.
“…I succeeded. Right, I asked for it, ehehe.”
She seems to be in a better mood, so I can relax for now.
“Let’s leave this world first then. I’ll send you out.”
“There’s no…need”
Kanzashi appears from the forest just like before.
“I’ll…send her out…”
“O-okay.”
Her voice seems to have some fury in it, and I find it a little difficult to argue back.
“Anyway, Charlotte’s…uniform download…complete.”
Charl’s immediately surrounded by light, and she changes back to her usual IS Academy Uniform outfit.
“I’ll be going out then, Ichika. Don’t forget the promise.”
Charl’s being abnormally energetic, and she walks to the outside of the forest with light steps.
Kanzashi whispers to me something before she heads off after Charl,
“Biased...”
“Wh-what!? No, that’s not it. I’m not—”
But Kanzashi has already looked away.
“…”
I’m left alone, and scratch my head while not knowing what’s going on.
“It’s great that you can see her smiling face again.”
…Am I hallucinating? I think I hear something, and yet it doesn’t feel that way.
Anyway,
“Two more doors. Laura and Houki, huh?”
A thought pops up in my mind, telling me there are two more troublesome—no, two people in huge trouble.
“Anyway, I can only go on!”
I motivate myself and rummage through the clothes case.
◇
My name’s Laura Bodewig.
The commander of the German Special Forces ‘Black Hares’, and currently—
“World Purge, complete.”
—And now, I’m a groom loving my ‘wife’ who I married two months ago.
I used the salary given by the army to buy a house as our love nest. It does feel a little too large for 2 people, but considering the future, this isn’t inappropriate
“Hm…”
I lay the newspaper out on the living room table, waiting for breakfast.
“The situation in the Middle East is changing. Will it affect my Germany—”
“Laura, didn’t I tell you not to read the newspaper when you’re eating?”
“Y-yes. Sorry.”
My wife said this as he serves the hot cocoa with lots of milk in it.
(Such a capable ‘bride’)
I’m nodding away in my heart.
On a side note, the wife’s called Orimura Ichika.
“Laura, the omelet rice’s done.”
I receive the omelet rice that’s soft on the inside, filled with love, and look at Ichika again.
He’s dressed in an apron, and is the ‘bride’ I’m proud of.
“Oh yes, Ichika, actually, I…”
Ahem. I cough, and change the topic.
“I have a special vacation today, so, well…”
“We can spend the entire day alone?”
“U-um.”
I’m a little embarrassed, while Ichika’s face immediately lit up.
“In that case, let’s hurry and use these.”
“Th-those are!”
Those are the 5 ‘satisfy any wish coupons’ we obtained from each other on our wedding anniversary.
I look at my familiar handwriting, and a stronger sense of embarrassment rises in him.
(He must be thinking of whatever ‘wish’ he wants, that damned Ichika…)
I cosplayed as a Gothic Lolita the last time.
What does he want me to do this time? A nurse?
“Laura, be my healing angel…”
A-a maid, maybe?
“Call me Master…”
Or maybe a bunny girl?
“You’re a cute bunny-chan, my Laura…”
…
“Laura? Laura?”
“Eh? What is it?”
“You’re nosebleeding.”
Ichika mentions this and wipes my face with his handkerchief.
“I can do it myself! Yes!”
“Yes yes.”
“Just say ‘yes’ once.”
“Let’s not talk about that, Laura. Say ahh.”
…Gulp.
(Waah, Ichika’s omelet rice melts in my mouth~ ♪)
—Eh, now’s not the time to indulge in such happiness!
“Ichika!”
“Yes.”
“Wh-what kind of wish did you make?”
I stand up without further thought, and Ichika smiles as he points out my fault.
“Okay okay, just calm down. Being anxious is a flaw a commander mustn’t have, right?”
“U-um…that’s right.”
I sit down again, take a bite of toast, filled my mouth with salad, and take a gulp of cocoa.
“A naked apron then.”
—Bfftt!!
“Ack, ack ack!...Wh-what!?”
“My wish is for you to try being in a naked apron, Laura.”
“Y-yo-you idiot! Who’ll do such a thing!?”
I poke my head over the table and close in on Ichika.
Only to be attacked by with a kiss on the forehead.
Chuu.
“Ahh…”
“Please, Laura♪”
“U…um…”
…
……
……..
“I-Is this alright?”
My voice is devoid of force, and I hesitantly walk out of the living room.
I have only an eyepatch and an apron on me, and I’m so embarrassed here.
I pull the cloth in front of me, hoping to cover even a little bit of cloth, but Ichika gives an uncompromising stare at my body lovingly.
“Uu…”
“You’re very cute, Laura.”
“What, shut up shut up!”
Ichika says with a very gentle voice, seemingly wanting to raise my embarrassment.
“Then, since it’s rare to see you wear an apron, how about you cook?”
“Wh-what!?”
“Your cuteness will increase this way, Laura.”
“Ugh…!”
I can’t resist when Ichika describes me as ‘cute’.
I hate myself for my stupidity and small stature…but I love it.
(I’m…a weak woman.)
Once I recognize this dissatisfaction in my mind, it becomes delight again.
“If you dare do anything funny…I won’t forgive you.”
“What weird thing?”
“Anyway! Those, well…perverted…hump! Don’t make me say it!”
Bump! I hit Ichika in the abdomen, and walk to the kitchen.
“It hurts…Laura.”
“What is it?”
“Your butt’s cute♪”
My bare area was being fondled at.
My mind’s boiling, and I swing a punch back hard at Ichika..
But Ichika gently stops my fist, and then hugs me from behind nonchalantly.
“You’re so cute, Lura.”
“T-this! Stop it, you idiot…ahh!”
He touch the apron covering my breasts.
Once I show a response from the sensitive part, Ichika whispers an intoxicatingly sweet and lewd line at my ears.
“…Let’s play on like this today.”
“Wh-what?”
“Let’s play kissy kissy.”
Chuu! A kiss is engraved on my shoulder.
(I-I-I-I—)
My mind’s all dizzy now.
Ahh, but, but,
(Maybe it’s not so bad…to go with the flow like this…)
Just when I was lost in my thoughts of paradise, a growl suddenly rang.
“Goodness me, why in the world is everyone having such dreams!?”
There’s a suspicious person dressed in full silver armor opening the door and entering.
“Who are you!?”
I grab the chopper from where I am and throw it at the armored man.
DANG! The chopper lands right at the chest with a loud sound…but it’s shallow.
“A-ar-are you trying to kill me!?”
“Of course. Those who get in the way of Ichika and my relationship shall all die!”
I rush out from Ichika’s embrace and charge in low at the armored man.
“Hah!”
“!”
I land a sharp fatal kick at the gap of the armor.
And I felt the opponent’s bones let out a creak.
“Gurk!”
The armored man kneel down on his knees. I forcefully pull out the chopper from his chest, and quickly placed it at his neck.
“It’s over. Die.”
“Do your best, Laura.”
I suddenly hear Ichika cheering me from behind, and my heart flutters.
“O-of course. It’s decided—”
“You bastard…making Laura fight in your stead.”
The armored man stands up with quite the momentum.
I hurriedly draw back the chopper and slash at the armored man, but the slash feels shallow.
“Move aside, Laura.”
“Do your best, Laura.”
There are two Ichika voices, coming from both front and back.
(I-I-I…)
The armored man pushes aside me as I’m feeling lost, and draws the sword at his waist.
“GOOOO!”
“Do your best, Laura.”
ZAK! Ichika’s stabbed through the chest by the chest.
His heart should be pierced through completely, but he’s not letting out a single drop of blood.
And also, he’s repeating the same line over and over again like a broken recorder.
“Do your best, Laura.”
He just continues, and continues.
“Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura.”
He just keeps on repeating this line over and over again.
“Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura. Do your best, Laura.”
The ‘do your best’ soon becomes ‘fight’.
(I-I-I’m born, to fight…)
“Wh-what kind of joke is THIIIISSSS!!”
The armored man slams Ichika into the wall, and raised the sword used to stab him.
Even as his brain was split in two, he continues on,
“Do your…best…Lau…ra, fig…ht…on…kill…kill…”
A-ah, ah—
“Uwahh! N-no…. No…no! I’m not a fighting ma…”
“Laura!”
The armored man takes off his armor.
He removes his helmet, and a familiar face appears in front of me—
“It’s alright, Laura. You’re yourself, and irreplaceable. You don’t have to fight against your will.”
“Ahh…Ichika…”
I’m surrounded by that warm embrace, and lose my consciousness.
◇
“Alright…”
Once we return to the forest, I let the sleeping Laura in my clutches land on the field so that she can continue sleeping.
I suppose the fact that she’s sleeping soundly is proof that she’s having a good nap, and I can’t find anything wrong with her.
“Just like a sleeping beauty.”
I touch her nose.
“She really looks cute like this.”
I too sit beside Laura at her waist, and look at the sky without minding her at all.
“But why is it that all their dreams includes me?”
“Let me answer this.”
A head popped out from the lush forest, and I didn’t need to think to know it’s Kanzashi.
“Do-don’t scare me like that…”
“Yes…”
She nods and reverts back to her usual passive mode as she walks out from the forest.
“You have a lot of leaves on you…guess there’s no choice.”
I pick the leaves one by one off Kanzashi, and her face is red for some reason.
“Do you know how the enemy’s attacking us?”
“Yes, I guess the enemy’s...connects directly to its attack targets in a neural way…this method turns the attacked’s inner wishes and desires to become reality, blocks off stimulation from the outside way, and cause some sort of psychological effect…the intention is to—”
Upon hearing Kanzashi say this, Laura immediately sat up to cut her off.
“Wh-what are you saying, you?Y-yo-you’re saying this is my wish!? K-kn-kno-know your place!”
Laura’s embarrassed in an interesting manner, and I start to tidy up her silky hair that’s messed by the wind.
“Good morning, sleeping beauty.”
“S-sl-sleep-sleeping beauty!? I-i-Ichika, you…!”
Laura’s about to leap and snare my neck, but Kanzashi puts her hands on Laura’s head to stop her.
“Your face…is really red.”
“WHA!?”
“In other words…”
“We were right…”
“Th-that’s not it! Definitely not! Ab-about getting married happiy! About however a nice family! About having 3 children! I-I have to fulfill my responsibilities as a soldier since I’m often on the battlefield—”
“Laura.”
Stop. I pat her on the head gently.
“How about you go back to rest?”
“Y-yes…”
I stroke Laura’s silky hair, and the feeling on my fingers really soothes me.
Just when I was enjoying myself here, Kanzashi suddenly coughed dryly.
“…Ack…ack!”
I feel that it’s a little pitiful, but I draw my hand away from Laura’s head.
“…Then, I’ll…be going back.”
“Oh, be careful.”
“I-Ichika, I have something to say to you once you return.”
“Hm?”
“An-anyway, forget about everything today! This is an order!”
Yes! I give Laura a salute, and bid farewell to her.
Then, I look at the last door.
I wonder what kind of dream does that swordsman nadeshiko[10] have?
“…Right, better not go then.”
I can feel a strong killing intent.
“I’m joking, just joking. Ahahaha.”
I rummaged through the clothes case, and found a nice set of clothing I can use.
“—Let’s go then.”
I open the last door.
◇
My name’s Shinonono Houki.
I’m Ichika’s childhood friend, and also his senior at the dojo.
Right now, I’m in IS Academy—
“World Purge………………………… complete.”
Right now, I’m living together with Ichika at the Shinonono shrine.
I’m the miko of this shrine, and also teach the kids kendo in the dojo here.
“998…999…1000!”
I finished my strokes, and wipe away the sweat on my forehead.
“You’ve worked hard for morning training, Houki.”
Ichika said this as he appears, and hands me a towel.
He’s dressed in hakama, and this black piece of clothing really suits him.
“Are you starting now?
“No, I finished my strokes one hour ago. I’m going for a run now.”
“Is that so…then, the two of us can go together—”
“Nn?”
“No, it’s nothing! Nothing at all!”
“Is that so? Let’s have breakfast then. It’s your favorite carrot miso soup today.”
“U, um.”
I was led into the main house by Ichika, who’s showing a smiling look on his face.
◇
(It’s weird…)
In this computer world that’s filled with both light and darkness, the ‘enemy’ attacking IS Academy is silently thinking about something.
(The ‘world purge’ effects on Shinonono Houki is a little weak…why is it…?)
But it’s not completely ineffective.
She has finished ‘isolating her from the real world’.
(…)
But it just seems rather out of place.
The girl thought of the uneasy feeling, and reached her destination.
In this world, the dimensions were vague, void of any roads; after walking for a while, she finally saw the core of this world—an ice sculpture of a world.
