Infinite Stratos - Volume 5

  Okiura

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  CHOCO

  Chapter 1: Heart's Painkiller

  "DEYYAAAHHHH!!!"

  *KLANG!* The heavy sound of metal echoed out. Ichika and Rin clashed blades as they faced off against each other.

  It was the 3rd of September, during a practical training lesson at the beginning of the second term that was held between classes 1 and 2.

  "Ku...!"

  "I WON'T LET YOU GET AWAY, ICHIKA!"

  As fellow class representatives, both of them were fighting in this match. Ichika had the upper hand at the beginning, but Rin started to turn it around.

  The reason was simple and clear. [Byakushiki]'s second phase was using energy too quickly.

  "You used too much energy on your shield!"

  "Not over yet!"

  Ichika swung his blade, but the [Yukihira Niigata] had already lost the glow of the [Reiraku Byakuya] and became an ordinary physical sword.

  If he pulled his distance, Ichika should be able to fire the particle cannon from the multi-purpose left arm weapon [Setsura], but that part had also lost all energy.

  "It's useless! This [Shenlong] is designed to be stable and be efficient in using up the energy—[Impact Cannons]!"

  *BOOM!* After firing several high-pressure shots in quick succession, Ichika and Rin pulled away from each other.

  It seemed that Rin didn't intend on letting go of this opportunity as she threw out the attached [Souten Gagetsu].

  "Kuu!"

  Ichika managed to take the powerful hit, but Rin already disappeared from his eyes.

  Though the IS Hyper Sensors managed to make up for it as it sensed the enemy's location, it was already too late.

  "TTTAAAAAAAAA!!!"

  Rin grabbed Ichika on the foot and threw him forcefully to the ground.

  As the sunlight was too strong, Ichika immediately narrowed his eyes, and he saw a black figure flying down at him.

  "I WIN!"

  "!"

  Rin remained upside down and continued shooting the [Impact Cannons] at him.

  After shooting 10 rounds, the bell rang, indicating that the match was over.

  --Needless to say, Ichika lost.

  ◆

  "It's now two straight wins for me. Heh heh, treat me now."

  "Ku..."

  I lost both the first part and the second part of the practical training. After clearing up everything, our usual gang arrived at the student cafeteria.

  Having been messed around by her, I felt the agony of defeat as I ate lunch.

  On a side note, I chose the miso mackerel set. The white miso is really tasty, and the mackerel's chewiness' really outstanding. Yup, the aunties in the IS Academy Cafeteria did this really well.

  "Is that nice, Laura?"

  "Yeah. I never thought that I could eat Schnitzel outside my own country."

  Laura, who's good friends with Charl, sliced the German cuisine dish Schnitzel[5A 1] (fried beef steak).

  "Do you want some?"

  "Wah? Can I?"

  "Yup."

  "I'll take this then! Ehehe, I always wanted to eat this."

  Charl ate the Schnitzel Laura sliced for her, looking really delighted.

  "Mn~! This is so delicious! Every single German meat dish is nice."

  "Well, you can put it that way. The potato dishes are also worth trying."

  Laura blushed slightly, probably happy that her own country got praised.

  On seeing them like this, the other girls seemed like they also wanted to join in the conversation as everyone started to talk about cuisines.

  "Ah—Germany produces a lot of nice sweets like the Baumkuchen[5A 2]. China doesn't have those kinds of desserts, so I'm a bit jealous."

  "I see. I'll tell my squad next time to send the Frankfurter Kranz[5A 3] over."

  Huh, let me try and recall. A Frankfurter Kranz should be a buttercream cake that's covered in caramel. It's shaped uniquely like a king's crown.

  But the Baumkuchen should be like that as well. Do German dessert chefs insist on a hole in the middle?

  "Speaking of German dessert, I love that thing, that Berliner Pfannkuchen[5A 4]."

  Cecilia said that, but Charl asked back in shock,

  "Huh? The Berliner Pfannkuchen's that deep-fried bread that has jam inside right? The exterior's made of vanilla though, so I feel there should be a lot of calories...do you like that kind of thing, Cecilia?"

  "I-I calculated the calories carefully before, so there's no problem! That's right, I prepare to fast for the rest of the day when I eat a Berliner Pfannkuchen..."

  Do you need to prepare yourself and follow the bushido code of fasting in the first place?

  If you want to eat dessert, just eat it. I'll get scolded if I say that, right?

  "A deep-fried bread with jam inside. Sounds good."

  As expected of Houki. A primary school girl normally wouldn't eat too many deep-fried breads with the nutritional lunch, but she would finish hers completely...Houki seems like she'll get angry if I say that, so I decided to remain silent.

  "If you like deep-fried bread, Cecilia, how about I make you some sesame balls next time?"

  "What's that?"

  "A Chinese dessert. It's sweetened bean paste with glutinous flour wrapped around it. The exterior's coated with a layer of sesame and then deep fried~"

  "It-It sounds delicious! Ah, but the calories..."

  "No problem. Just tell me when you want to eat it."

  "Rin-san...you're a better person than I thought you were..."

  "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU THOUGHT!? SAYING WHAT 'BETTER THAN I THOUGHT YOU WERE'!"

  Over here, Rin and Cecilia still have quite the good relationship.

  "I like Japanese desserts. That can be called classy, right?"

  At one time during summer vacation, everyone went to a green tea cafe, and Laura seemed like she liked the fruit-jelly desserts, it also seemed like she often went there after that.

  After she told that to her friends in her native country, they were envious. Furthermore, it seems like they also wanted some Yatsuhashi[5A 5] sent over or something. I do feel that her military friends are really direct.

  "If you eat sugar snacks during spring and jelly during summer, you have to eat sweetened bean paste pastries in the autumn."

  "Oh, and winter?"

  "Crackers."

  As expected of Houki, she really understands a Japanese's heart.

  But if we continue to discuss about sweets, I'll really feel like I want to eat them.

  (But I have no time to chit-chat about this.)

  Right now, I should be thinking about IS, the problem with my IS, [Byakushiki].

  "Sigh...speaking of which, why did I lose even with the power up..."

  "I told you your machine used up energy too quickly. Your weapon would already lower your shield energy, so it'll get worse with two of them."[5A 6]

  "Mn..."

  It'll still be okay if that's the case, but even the wing-shaped boosters on the back got enlarged, so a lot of energy is spent.

  Though I need two-thirds of my time to recharge the [Ignition Boost] to increase my speed to 1.5 times, it really is too much to use up that amount of energy...

  But course, all these won't use up too much shield energy, but because the particle cannon uses the same energy system, I have to use it well.

  (Need to quickly switch between close range and long range tactics, also need to
get shooting practice, training with the new equipment and...)

  ARRGGHH! I HAVE LOTS OF THINGS TO DO!

  Even so, my top priority's the same as when I was in first phase. It's about how to conserve my energy.

  (Energy, energy. Can't I use a little less energy somewhere? Sigh...)

  "I-I don't think that's a problem! Just partner with me!"

  Houki folded her arms in front of her chest as she said that.

  Houki's personal IS [Akatsubaki]'s unique one-off ability [Kenran Butou] is the complete opposite of [Reiraku Byakuya]. In other words, it increases the amount of energy, and can also transfer energy with a single touch. That's normally hard to do between ISs.

  (Speaking of which, Chifuyu-nee did seem to say it before that [Byakushiki] and [Akatsubaki] were a pair. The initial design was for both machines to use each other's energy.)

  --Most likely, it also has the significance of controlling each other.

  [Byakushiki] can destroy energy, and the [Akatsubaki] can increase it.

  So these two machines are the [keys to stop each other].

  (...)

  "Why are you looking so awkward? You're my bride, so team up with me."

  Laura was poking at my right cheek.

  Recently, Laura's been a lot gentler, and would even joke around. However, it's hard to tell because she always looks so cold.

  "Unfortunately, Ichika's teaming up with me! I'm his childhood friend, and [Shenlong] can fight in close range or mid-range, so it matches with [Byakushiki] well."

  "Wha, why are you deciding this on your own...!? Ahem! If that's the case, this Cecilia Alcott-sama will take part as the representative candidate with a long-range type machine. I can cover the ranges [Byakushiki] has a problem with."

  "No, I'm first in line if we're talking about childhood friends. And also, well, how should I put it...[Byakushiki] and [Akatsubaki] look just like a picture when together. It-It matches..."

  She sounded really vague at the last moment, and I couldn't hear it clearly. Anyway, with Houki leading the charge, everyone was willing to be my teammate. Why did this happen?

  "Mn...but there aren't any group tournaments to take part in recently."

  "Maybe there will be one out of a sudden."

  "At that time—I think I'll go with Charl."

  "Huh? Me?"

  Maybe she was shocked that she got named, as Charl's hand that was holding the fork full of Carbonara[5A 7] suddenly stopped.

  Then, she put down her fork and spoon, rubbed her hands together, and asked,

  "Wh-Why-Why's that so?"

  "We teamed up before."

  "Oh, I see..."

  The eyes that were glittering one second ago suddenly became dark like obsidian, as Charl continued to eat with an empty look.

  ...Wha-What just happened.

  "I knew that would happen. Haa..."

  Charl's sigh felt like a fuse as the other girls started scolding me.

  "You're really too much..."

  "Really, don't you know what a girl's heart is?"

  "Ichika-san's blockheadness can't be forgiven at times."

  "I'll treat you to Cafe ja, Charlotte. Don't feel so downheartened."

  "Tha-Thanks, Laura...and everyone."

  Charl seemed to be really touched as her eyes brightened. She smiled at everyone...except for me.

  "I-I didn't say that for you."

  After saying that, Rin folded her arms in front of her chest. However, she blushed, seemingly shy.

  "Heh...Rin, you're rather gentle even though you say that."

  "Hu-Humph!"

  (Ohh, as expected of Charl, always friendly to everyone regardless of gender. Her friendly personality's rather good.)

  "...Why are you looking at me."

  "No, you're thinking too much, Houki?"

  "...Why are you looking at me now?"

  "You're thinking too much, Laura."

  After saying that, both of them gave me a karate chop each.

  The karate chops have the hidden meaning of 'You must be thinking of something rude'.

  (The-There's no such thing, right?)

  The karate chops landed again.

  "Uu."

  ""Humph!""

  After finishing my lunch with a lot of commotion, we headed to the arena for afternoon practice.

  ◆

  "It's such a waste to have so much space..."

  The changing room that became my personal one made me really insecure.

  After putting on my IS suit, I summoned [Byakushiki]'s control panel to begin my adjustments.

  (Mn...[Setsura] does take up too much energy. Can't I control that a bit?)

  As I continued to think about it, my eyes suddenly went dark. This isn't a metaphor, it's real.

  "?"

  "Guess who?"

  Huh? Huh? Huh? Wh-Who's that?

  The voice that came from behind me sounded even more mature than my classmates, but the slightly cheeky tone made it feel as if it's a kid who loves to play pranks.

  The fingers covering my eyes were somewhat dry and icy cold. The fingers felt really comfortable, and I was in a daze for several seconds.

  "Okay, time's up."

  I turned around to see who's the one who released her fingers and said that,

  "...Who are you?"

  She's a girl I don't know. No, looking at the conversation just now, I don't think that answered the question.

  "Ufufu."

  The girl in front of me has a tie that signifies that she's from the second year. Showing a happy smile as she stared at this puzzled me, she then raised a fan that I had no idea where she got it out from and raised it to her lips. Looking at her again, this second year is really enigmatic.

  She looks rather carefree and gives off a rather relaxing presence that I don't hate. But the smile on her face is of the complete opposite. It looks teasing, and in another sense, I can't calm down.

  In other words, I'm worried that 'She would do something to me'. It feels that she's hard to read, really mysterious...am I praising her too much?

  "Are you—"

  "Ah."

  The second year looked behind me, and I turned to look there to see what's going on—

  "Fooled you♪!"

  My face got smacked with the fan.

  "..."

  Huh..."

  "Bye bye! Got to hurry up, or else you'll get scolded by Orimura-sensei."

  "Huh?"

  Feeling a bad premonition, I turned to look at the clock on the wall. It's already 3 minutes past the start of lesson time.

  "UAAAAHHHHHH! OH-OH NO—I'M DEEEAAADDDD!!!"

  I again turned to look at that culprit, only to see that there's no one there now.

  ◆

  "...And that's your excuse for being late?"

  The instructor from hell, Orimura Chifuyu didn't have a look of sympathy on her face at all.

  "No, well, about that? I'm saying that a girl just walked up to me—"

  "Say the girl's name out then."

  "I-I told you that I met her for the first time!"

  "Oh? So you put 'Chit-chatting with a girl you met for the first time' as a higher priority and came late for lesson?"

  "No, that's not—"

  There was no room for interruption at all.

  "Dunois, prepare for [Rapid Switch] training, the target will be this idiot. Don't mind."

  I MIND THAT!!

  "..."

  Having a hint of hope in my heart, I turned to look at Charl.

  She returned me a radiant smile.

  (That's it, Charl! You won't do such a reckless thing!)

  "Then, Orimura-sensei, I'll start the training."

  "Good."

  GYAAHHH! CHARL'S SMILE ISN'T OF A MERCIFUL GODDESS BUT A HEARTLESS ANGEL!

  Her IS floated into the air, and the particles of light gathered in her hands, forming the shape of a gun.

  "Well, Charlotte...san?"

  "What is it, Orimura-kun?"
>
  GYAAAHH!! I'M SEEING VEINS ON HER FOREHEAD!! WHY-WHY'S THAT? WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY, CHARL-SAN!!?

  "Let's go, [Revive]."

  "Hol-HOLD IT—"

  *BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM!!*

  My voice got overpowered by the sounds of bullets...GGYYYYYYAAAAAHHHHHH!!!

  ◆

  "That's what I'm saying! Please send me the live equipment over!"

  "We can't grant that request, Cecilia Alcott. Your [Blue Tears] needs to provide us the actual combat data for the BT weapons, not live weapons."

  "I know, I know that well...ahh, really, you're too rigid!"

  After the 6th practical lesson ended, the changing room that was packed full of 2 classes of girls was filled with hot air and chattering.

  Slightly further away, Cecilia was using one hand as she called the international line through the phone to haggle with the person in charge of her IS who was in her native country, England.

  "Speaking of which, why do you need live weapons?"

  "Uu...!"

  The reason is simple and quick, but she's reserved about saying it out directly.

  —Because an IS that only has BT weapons won't be able to beat Ichika-san's [Byakushiki].

  (I'll lose if I can't pierce the shield and let it run out of energy.)

  During the simple practical training that also included breaking, Cecilia was the only one who lost to Ichika.

  Having lost to [Byakushiki]'s second phase that used energy quickly, Cecilia's pride was in a mess.

  (Just me, just me...)

  As she let out a painful and silent expression, the in-charge on the other side of the phone sighed.

  "Listen up, Cecilia Alcott. Your mission is to collect the actual combat data of the BT weapons. Not to mention we have problems now since the new equipment was destroyed last month."

  "Th-That's..."

  "No need for excuses. Good bye."

  *Pak!* The phone that was hung up left behind an empty beeping sound.

  "AH, THIS IS SO IRRITATING!"

  Cecilia raised her right hand as she wanted to throw the handphone away in fury.

  "Ce-Cecilia? What's wrong?"

  "...Nothing."

  Charlotte was the one who called her. Having changed from her IS suit into her uniform, she was wiping the sweat off her hair.