Infinite Stratos - Volume 7 Read online

  Okiura

  Front cover & insert

  Back cover & insert

  Page 014

  Page 017

  Page 043

  Page 053

  Page 065

  Page 121

  Page 173

  Page 226

  Page 239

  Page 269

  Page 315

  Page 332

  CHOCO

  Chapter 1: Sisters

  *PAM!!*

  "Wha...!?"

  Shooting at me? This is Japan!!

  "Ku!"

  The bullet flew directly at me.

  For some reason, the bullet looked slow yet clear.

  "Che."

  The attacker in front of me—Orimura Madoka clicked her tongue. The next, moment, the bullet that flew at me stopped there.

  The bullet stopped in mid-air. This is—

  (Laura's [AIC]!?)

  "Get down, Ichika!"

  Immediately after following what she said, the knife flew over my head. *Clunk* *clunk*, the fruit juice can that dropped from my hand bounced on the floor.

  "So you're here to stop me..."

  Madoka accurately blocked the knife that was aimed at her right eye with her hand.

  "What!?"

  Madoka grabbed the knife in her hand.

  "Right back at you."

  And threw it back at Laura.

  However, to Laura, who released the seal of her left eye, [Odin's Eye][7A 1], that could increase the motion and visual sense several times, it was easy to stop that knife with [AIC].

  Though the golden left eye immediately looked for Madoka after blocking that knife, the attacker who deployed her IS gradually disappeared into the night.

  "Fuu..."

  "STOP RIGHT THERE!"

  Avoiding the [AIC]'s stopping ability, Madoka flew off.

  Just like that, the attacker who suddenly appeared, disappeared completely into the night.

  "Ku..."

  "Are you alright, Laura?"

  "Who do you think I am? What about you?"

  "Ahh, thanks for your help, Laura. Thank you."

  "No need for the thanks."

  Laura said that as she sheathed her knife and put on the eyepatch.

  I patted away the dirt on me and picked up the canned drink that I dropped on the floor.

  "Ah."

  "Hm? What is it?"

  "As expected, Laura's left eye's really beautiful. It was glowing like a diamond."

  "Wha-What?"

  "It was tough being attacked, but seeing something good may have reduced that to zero—UWAHH!!?"

  "Wh-Wha-What reduced to zero, you idiot?"

  Laura closed in and stepped hard on my foot.

  "IT HURTS!?"

  "Fu-Fuun! Hurry up and go back!"

  "H-Hey, wait up. At least help me take the drinks."

  "Who'd care about you!?"

  Without stopping, Laura hurriedly walked away.

  "Speaking of which, how were you able to catch up to where I was attacked?"

  "Th-That's...!"

  "Hm?"

  "...I-I could possibly say that, that I tailed two people together or something like that..."

  "Huh? What's wrong, Laura?"

  "Nothing! Huh, umm, you-you!"

  "Uwah, what's wrong!? AH, STOP STEPPING ON MY FOOT! HEY, IDIOT!"

  "WHO-WHO'S THE IDIOT!?"

  Blushing immediately, Laura stepped forward and gave me a vicious punch.

  ◆

  ""You were attacked?""

  On Monday, at the dinner table, Houki and Rin exclaimed.

  "Ahh, it was last night."

  I told them everything, except for the name Orimura Madoka.

  On a side note, the reason why I didn't tell them what happened last night immediately was because I didn't want to ruin the happy mood of the birthday celebration.

  "The pilot of the [Silent Zephyrs]...what was she aiming for? Did you think about it, Ichika?"

  "I don't, know."

  As for Charl's question, I answered simply to hide the vague tone.

  Better ask Chifuyu-nee.

  (But—)

  Family affairs...no, about our parents, it's a taboo between Chifuyu-nee and me. Even though I tried to look into it, I couldn't go deeper...no, I didn't want to do it.

  "Speaking of which, Ichika-san. Can you feed me the fried egg?"

  "Mn, okay. Got it."

  I helped feed Cecilia, whose right arm got injured a few days ago. It was really pitiful that she couldn't use her hands properly.

  "Ahh, a—n..."

  *PAK*. Cecilia used her hand to cover her mouth as she continued to chew.

  She was blushing somewhat, probably because she was embarrassed by everyone looking at her.

  (Ah, letting others feed her at this age should be really awkward for her.)

  "...What, Cecilia. Actually preparing a dish that needs chopsticks..."

  "...You could have just eaten pasta with one hand..."

  Cecilia looked away from Rin and Houki who were staring at her and coughed dryly.

  On a side note, the meal consisted of salt-baked salmon, egg rolls, sesame spinach salad, potato stew and a steaming bowl of egg custard[7A 2].

  "Ichika, she could use a spoon to eat the egg custard, right? Cecilia?"

  Charl smiled, and for some reason, the smile on her face had a lot of pressure.

  "TH-This is...I-I can't eat properly if I use my left hand!"

  "Really? Then let me feed you."

  "La-Laura-san!? Wait...at least after it cools down first...AAAAAAHHHH!!!"

  The spoon that was full of steaming hot egg custard was forced down onto Cecilia's throat.

  Hey hey, stop bullying the injured folks!

  "Ara ara, you people look really happy~."

  "Ah, Yamada-sensei. And..."

  Chifuyu-nee. No, Orimura-sensei's with her as well. Both of them were holding the same dinner trays.

  "Don't be too noisy, idiot!"

  "I-I'm the one who got hurt..."

  "Alcott, I should be suspending you with regards to the battle inside town yesterday, but I'll let it slide this time. Don't be mistaken."

  "Ye-Yes..."

  On a side note, I was lectured badly today in the chase after the [Silent Zephyrs]. The 2-hour lecture made my body feel like choking.

  "Just a quick question. Do you people eat together like this?"

  "Ah, yes. That's how it is normally."

  "Really?"

  "Oh? Orimura-sensei, are you mindful of it~?"

  "Yamada-sensei, we'll have a close combat fight as exercise after dinner."

  "I-I was joking! A-Aha-Ahahahaha~..."

  Yamada-sensei, you seem to have gotten into a tight spot after teasing Chifuyu-nee like that. You should learn your lesson...

  "Don't be too noisy...then again, saying this to girls in their teens is going to fall on deaf ears. Oh well, control yourself."

  After saying that, Chifuyu-nee brought Yamada-sensei to the table inside.

  Since everyone was still around, I couldn't ask about Madoka. Better ask when I have the chance next time.

  Just like that, dinner soon ended.

  ◆

  "...Speaking of which, why is everyone following me?"

  While returning back to my dorm room, I asked everyone who was following me in a group.

  "We-Well...it's not that we are worried about you!"

  Rin was the first one who answered.

  "Ah-, well, you see, it's just that we want to come to Ichika's room once in a while to talk."

  Then Charl added.

  "Uu, yup! That's right, Ichika. It's important to communicate with everyone here."
>
  Houki nodded her head too. Didn't we talk a lot during dinner? Well, it's not that I don't like this development.

  "Then, Ichika-san? If possible, I hope that you can change my bandages."

  "Ohh, okay."

  After saying that, Cecilia's face brightened. I guess it's a man's happiness to make her so happy.

  "Hey, Ichika, you're spoiling her too much already. What kind of representative candidate is she if she can't treat her own wounds by herself?"

  Laura rebuked sharply,

  "It seems that in this country, they apply saliva on the wounds to heal them. Perfect timing, try it."

  "No Laura, applying saliva doesn't mean that..."[7A 3]

  This situation...the saying doesn't suit it, right?

  "Is that so? Just to inform you, my saliva has slight healing nanomachines."

  Huh, is that true? It seems amazing, but it doesn't seem like something I should delve into.

  (Laura's a test tube baby born from the German military research lab.)

  She was created as an existence that was to fight—well, even though it's easy to deny this out of righteousness, doing that would mean denying Laura's existence.

  (And Laura herself isn't too bothered about it, plus it's not something outsiders can talk much about...)

  And ever since she came to Japan—after meeting these people, Laura's life may not just be about fighting anymore, or at least that's what I think.

  "Hey, are you listening? Really, you fail as a bride."

  "Yes-Yes, I'm sorry."

  Every time I am called a bride, I secretly recall that kiss. Better not say it out.

  Every time I remember that, my face gets rather hot.

  "Hm? What's wrong?"

  "No, it's nothing."

  Casually bringing her face over to me, Laura pulled away. I finally reached my room and opened the door.

  "How about chairs? Do I need to borrow them?"

  "No need. We'll just sit on the bed. Okay, everyone?"

  Charl asked the other girls. Yup, such a nice person.

  "Oh well, I'll just sit on the bed."

  "Yeah, and the quality of this dorm's beds are good."

  "As for me, I'm a little unhappy that it's not my bed—well, this can do though."

  "I don't mind."

  Rin, Houki, Cecilia and Laura, all answered in turn as they walked into the room.

  "Ah, what drinks should I buy?"

  "It's okay. No need to spend so much effort, Charl. And if there's a need to buy, I—"

  "Really! What'll happen if you get attacked after you said that!"

  "Ah, no..."

  Charl increased the intensity of her voice. I was shocked and could only apologize sincerely.

  Charl suddenly recovered and frantically backed away.

  "So-Sorry."

  "No, no, it's alright."

  "Well...as expected, since Ichika's a guy, you hate to be protected by girls, right...?"

  "No, no, that's not the case, you know? We-Well, it's too much to be told off like I'm not a guy."

  "Is-Is that so? That's great..."

  "O-Oh..."

  "..."

  "..."

  Both of us lowered our heads, and silence occurred between us.

  Well, it felt like my heart raced...yet it didn't feel like it...

  """"Jii....""""[7A 4]

  "Owahh!?"

  Ever since I opened the door, Rin, Houki, Cecilia, Laura...anyway, everyone other than Charl was glaring coldly at me.

  "C-Charlotte again..."

  "Ichika, you bastard...!"

  "That-That's despicable! Charlotte-san!"

  "Humph!"

  Ah, Laura got angry again. She won't be able to calm down once she's angry...

  "Ah—well, Laura...san?"

  "WHY LAURA!?"

  "MINDFUL ABOUT LAURA? YOU BASTARD!"

  "I-I-ICHIKA-SAN!"

  Wa—I got trouble for myself again.

  I could feel that I saw my future kneeling on the floor and begging for forgiveness.

  ◆

  "Hoo."

  Two hours later, I finally got away from the girls and rolled onto the bed.

  "Let's take a shower."

  I thought as I stood up. At that moment, the room door opened.

  "Chia chian~! Tatenashi onee-san~ appears~"

  "Please go back."

  I immediately closed the door. Immediately after that, I heard the sound of water flowing outside the door.

  "--WAHHH!!!"

  The water blade sliced the door in half.

  Tatenashi-san was holding onto the whip sword [Rusty Nail], currently in its sword mode.

  "Ara ara, you can't ignore this onee-san.★"

  Sigh, do whatever you want.

  I couldn't help but lower my head dejectedly.

  "Can I enter the room?"

  "Please."

  The [Rusty Nail] in Tatenashi-san's hand disappeared, and what replaced it was the fan she often holds.

  The words written on it are the words 'Disastrous situation'[7A 5]. Don't tell me—wait, there's no need to doubt it. She planned this visit right from the beginning, right?

  "Then, what do you want. If possible, I want to take a shower now."

  "Hm? Then just bathe as you talk. Because I, didn't bring my swimsuit today."

  "DAAAAAAAAAAA!! HOW DID SUCH A DEVELOPMENT OCCUR! RIGHT NOW, URGENTLY, JUST TALK!"

  "Ahaha, you became so desperate. Oh my, you're really cute."

  "Yeah yeah."

  Feeling completely fatigued all over, I poured tea for Tatenashi-san.

  "Mn~ nice Gyokuro tea[7A 6]. But you need to work against the tea professor in the Student Council office."

  We—I thought I'm supposed to be the Vice-President of the Student Council.

  "Tatenashi –san."

  "What?"

  "I'm going to chase you out, you know?"

  "No~"

  Haa. I sighed at the end. It seems like I will be toyed by her in the future. Goodbye, my sigh.

  "Then, what is it about today?"

  "Ichika-kun, weren't you attacked? Do you need security personnel in your house?"

  "No...No need to spend so much effort."

  She has an IS. I don't want to think about it, but the worst case scenario for an ordinary person would likely be death.

  "I guessed you would say that."

  "Really?"

  Seems like it.

  "Also, I'd like to request one thing."

  "?"

  Tatenashi-san asked in a rare ambiguous tone.

  "I...leave her to you!"

  *Pa!* She suddenly put her hands together and prayed to me.

  "Huh? Huh?"

  "I'll leave my imouto[7A 7] to you!"[7A 8]

  "WHAT!?"

  This sudden development stunned me.

  ◆

  "Haa. You're talking about...your own little sister? A first year."

  "Yeah, her name's Sarashiki Kanzashi. Ah, this is her photo."

  After saying that, she showed me a handphone photo. The girl in the photo seems to be a little shady.

  (Is this Tatenashi-san's imouto? But she feels a little—)

  "Just some words beforehand...I hope that you don't reveal that I said this..."

  Tatenashi-san explained this first. It's hard to imagine that she would usually say this.

  "My sister, she's...a little passive, or rather..."

  She seemed to be choosing her words.

  "Someone gloomy."

  Uwa—that's straight to the point alright.

  "Is-Is that so?"

  "But she really has talent. She's a Personal IS pilot, but—"

  "But?"

  "She hasn't gotten her unit yet."

  "Ah?"

  Then she shouldn't be called a Personal IS pilot...

  "Which means that, even though she's a Representative Cadet of Japan, her personal unit wasn't complete, so she didn't get one."

  "Oh."

/>   "Don't look like it doesn't involve you, Ichika-kun. You were the one who caused that, you know?"

  "Huh!?"

  Why did my name pop out suddenly.

  "Kanzashi-chan's IS developer was from Kuramochi Machinery Development, which means..."

  "It's the same place as where [Byakushiki] was born...right?"

  "Yes. And because all the manpower was sent to develop [Byakushiki], it's still incomplete now."

  "I see..."

  "So! That's why it's all Ichika-kun's fault!"

  "So-Sorry..."

  "Is that so? So Class 4's personal IS pilot would always take a break every time when there was a need for a Personal IS. She's a cadet without a personal IS; that's something humiliating."

  "Then, what's this about leaving your imouto to me?"

  "It's like this. As the [Cannonball Fast] incident happened yesterday, we will be having a mixed-year tag-team tournament next time to improve the ability of all Personal IS pilots."

  "Haa, is that so?"

  "Please! Please tag with Kanzashi-chan!"

  Tatenashi-san put the fan beside me and begged me again.

  "Ho-Hold on, Tatenashi-san. You don't have to beg me so formally."

  "Huh, I see...so, that means, you can?"

  She asked gently.

  She looked really small, and most likely, it's created by the huge contrast from what she would normally do.

  (That's quite a bother...)

  Inexplicably, once someone that's so carefree like me gets requested so earnestly like this, I'll end up trying to fulfill her wish to my utmost ability.

  "Uu, if possible...please don't mention my name."

  "Huh? Why?"

  "That kid...it seems that she has an inferiority complex towards me...I guess..."

  Tatenashi-san said that with an ambiguous tone.

  Seeing her like this, I can tell that the sisters don't really get along well.

  "You're not good with your imouto...or something like that?"

  "Uu..."

  Seeing Tatenashi-san lower her head dejected like this, I started to believe that my thoughts weren't wrong.

  These sisters aren't getting along. The elder sister trying to improve herself, and a resistant imouto...thinking about this, I can only think of another two people.