Infinite Stratos - Volume 2 Read online

  For some reason, Dan was getting agitated alone. Who are you going up against?

  "ARGH! I CAN'T TAKE IT! DAD'S NOT EVEN AT HOME AT THIS TIME! IS THIS REALLY ALRIGHT, GRAMPS!?"

  "Ran made the decision herself. Nobody else has the right to argue."

  "No, but--"

  "What, Dan, you have any comments about it?"

  "Nothing--"

  Ahh, this guy's really weak. If it was me, even if the other person's a relative, I would viciously argue back when I have something to say.

  "Do you really think that you can beat your own sister?"

  Yes, I do remember how my only relative is like. Pardon me, please allow me to take that back.

  "Well, that's decided. I'm done."

  Unknowingly, Ran finished her meal, stacks the chopsticks neatly, place her hands together to say grace, and stands up from the seat. Of course, you have to clear your own dishes.

  Ohh, Ran may become a good wife in the future. Anyone who becomes her husband in the future should have a good life.

  "Ichika."

  Dan cautiously brings his face over, and for some reason, whispers to me,

  "You better get a girlfriend now, immediately!"

  "What?"

  "Hah?"

  "What do you mean by that, hurry up and get one! This year--no, in this month!"

  Why is this guy so agitated all of a sudden? Oh yeah, let me add on. I heard that bulls can't recognise red, right? It's said that humans will get excited by the red cloth, not fighting bulls. I see.

  "I have no interest on that."

  "You haven't changed at all...you're a withered old man! Because of you, Rin--"

  "What's with Rin?"

  "No, never mind, Anyway, no matter who it is, hurry up and get a girlfriend! Got it? You hear me?"

  What's this guy planning to do? Speaking of which, how did this conversation begin in the first place?

  "Speaking of which. Since when were you interested in girls? I know, you're the kind that finds yourself cool and popular, right? Stop messing around, you bastard!"

  "What are you getting so angry for?"

  "I'm not!"

  Doesn't sound convincing. You're the kind who'll shout 'I'm not drunk' when drunk, right? Well, I don't really know myself. I've never drank alcohol anyway.

  "Onii."

  That's strange, Ran came back. For some reason, I feel the air temperature drops.

  "Oh, ooooooo, I'm here, whhhhhaaaattt's up?"

  Dan's trembling, is he feeling cold?

  Thus, I turn to look at Ran.

  --For a moment, just for a moment, I clearly saw an Asura embedded deep in her eyes.

  'Don't get involved in this'

  Her eyes are clearly saying this. As for the guys who came here to watch, it seems like she can just use a finger--or just a glance to knock them down.

  "We-well, I'm leaving then."

  Finally recovering, Ran hurriedly leaves.

  Dan is stunned. Was he just frozen? Well, doesn't matter, the weather today is warm, so he should thaw out soon.

  "Oh yeah, almost forgot. I can't let the food that others have prepared for me go cold."

  Though the pumpkin stew's as sickeningly sweet as ever, the flatfish that's cooked together with chili tastes just right. How can I make such a perfect taste? Better get them to teach me next time, I should let Chifuyu-nee try this.

  "...The...face..."

  "Hm?"

  "WHY ARE YOU SO POPULAR!? IS IT THAT FACE? IS THAT FACE THE COOL AND POPULAR KIND? I HAVE THE COOLNESS, SHARE SOME OF THE POPULARITY WITH ME!"

  That's enough! Stop uttering rubbish.

  "YOU'RE TOO NOISY, DAN!"

  "Yes, I'm sorry."

  With grandpa Gen shouting, Dan quickly kneeled down on the chair and greets. That's a product of good teaching, or rather, training? Besides, after training for so long, even the king of beasts can leap through a fire hoop.

  "Ichika, I'll battle with you later."

  "Yeah sure, what?"

  "Air hockey."

  He actually chose something he has lost 10 straight times in. Is this the so-called not admitting defeat...such he's prepared, no problems!

  "Don't think I'm the same man from middle school, Ichika!"

  With burning flames rising up behind him, he looks like a dragon who's about to fly into the sky. Expecting a fierce battle, I tightly clench my slightly trembling left hand.

  ◇

  "Ahh...my hand's all numb now..."

  Maybe I thought too much, as there wasn't a rising dragon. Just today alone, I managed to increase my winning streak to 16 times. Speaking of which, Dan, more than half of the wins were suicides on your own part...

  "..."

  It's past 6 now, and having returned to my dorm room, I'm lying on the bed, resting. I shake my arm that's somewhat tired and naturally look towards the bed beside me.

  Houki was still there last week, and now she moved to another room. I guess it's too big for one person.

  "Uun..."

  But why did she say that all of a sudden?

  I remember the day when she switched rooms--just when I thought that she was coming back, she suddenly made a declaration and then ran away like an escaping rabbit like a tornado just swept by.

  (And the Individual Division tournament she talked about is in this month...)

  I check the calendar that's hanged on the wall.

  The individual division tournament--

  As its name indicates, it's an individual tournament, and it will be held the entire week. As for the reason why, it's because everyone's required to take part.

  Each grade has about 120 students. As there are so many people taking part in it, the scale of this tournament's pretty big. The school will use this chance to assess the talent level of the first years, the growth and learning abilities of the second years, and the in-depth combat abilities of the third years.

  The third year tournament is all the more important--forget about the scouts from the IS related enterprises, even the high-ranked officials of all the countries seem like they will be here. This makes me realize and admire that fact that I've really entered an amazing school.

  (Well, anyway, got to work hard. I have to be active enough so that I can be at least on a level where I can at least make Chifuyu-nee proud.)

  Last month, the class representative tournament was suspended for that attack, and everyone got ordered not to say anything about it. As for me, Cecilia, and Rin, who fought the enemy directly: we were even forced to sign an oath.

  (What was that anyway?)

  Even though I can't understand it even if I continue to think about it, I still can't stop myself from thinking about it.

  Suddenly, I raised the right hand that I used to play with just now and brought it in front of me.

  Rolling up the sleeve, the gauntlet that's was strapped onto the skin reveals itself.

  That's the standby mode of my IS 'Byakushiki'.

  It's really hard to imagine that it's the control for some really powerful weapon. In standby mode, it's extremely quiet, or rather, it's asleep, though I don't really know whether it has the idea of sleeping.

  (At that time, Byakushiki told me that 'that's unmanned'.)

  Though I tried so hard that I forgot about myself, but I could still feel it. On a retrospective, I recall that there was something that felt like a 'report'. It seemed like Byakkushiki sent it to me.

  Even though there's no concrete evidence, I had that feeling.

  (Oh well, can't change anything now no matter how much I think about it. Better go get dinner.)

  I get up from the bed and walk towards the door. Just as I'm about to put my hand on the door handle, I can hear some knocking on the door.

  "Ichika, are you there?"

  "Yeah."

  The moment I opened the door, I see Rin standing there.

  "Do, don't just open the door like that so suddenly! That scared me!"

  Huang Lingyin, my se
cond childhood friend. She's the pilot of the personal IS 'Shenlong', and she was my classmate before she went back to her home country. She has the lively twin ponytails and a flat chest--ha, better not think about it. For some reason, my thoughts are often being seen through, so I'm rather mindful about that recently.

  "Wh-why are you staring at me like that..."

  "Oh, it's nothing, nothing at all."

  I said that as there was really nothing wrong, but Rin muttered 'I'm alright with that...'. What does she mean by that?

  "Oh yeah, I'm going out for dinner now. Anything you want, Rin?"

  "Fufuu, I thought as much, so I intended to get you alone. I'm someone who will bring a stray dog back after seeing it on a rainy day and feel that it's pitiful!"

  Am I a dog?

  "Well thanks. Let's go to the cafeteria."

  "Okay."

  Rin and I walked out. As it's dinner time, a lot of students opened their doors and walked out.

  "..."

  There are still many girls dressed in homestyle, and I really don't know where to look. Shorts, tank tops, and no bras...what should I say? Please be more mindful of how the opposite gender will look at you--

  "Oh, it's Orimura-kun. Hello--"

  "Whaaa!? O-Orimura-kun!?"

  A scantily dressed girl waved at me happily after she found me. On a side note, her name is...eh, Nohohon-san[2A 5] (for the time being). In the dorm, no matter what the time is, she'll always be wearing a wide and large nightgown, and at the moment, she will always use the hands hidden in her sleeves to wear it properly. She looks like she's going to tumble any minute, and that has left a deep impression on me.

  "Yo, Orimu--"

  "You're using this nickname?"

  "It's been decided! Also, you're eating together with me and Kanalin~~"

  This Nohohon-san (again, temporarily named as such), will always stick to me about 20cm away from me. This image should be similar to that--a mini puppy wanting someone to play with it and then using both feet to approach the guest.

  "Unfortunately for you, Ichika's going to have dinner with me."

  "Wa--it's Ling Ling. You're so brave~~

  "Do-don't call me that!"

  Slightly agitated, Rin's voice sounds somewhat crazy, but Nohohon-san isn't affected at all. Is this what they mean by wasting one's own breath?

  Let me add on. When Rin was in elementary school, her name was often a joke among the guys in the class. And since she's a Chinese national, there will be scenarios like 'Ling's' the name of a panda, right? Go eat some bamboo.[2A 6]

  Let me add on to that, I ended up fighting against 4 people that day, and of course, I got severely reprimanded.

  "Forget about it, Rin. Calm down. It's alright if the 4 of us eat together, right?"

  "It's not like I don't mind...but oh well."

  Hm? Is this the so-called 'I did not-aru'[2A 7]? Damn it, that's a taboo. Mustn't say it.

  "Isn't it strange for Chinese to have an 'aru' behind? Who thought of that!?"

  She once went crazy because of it, and once Rin gets angry, she'll be angry for a long time. I experienced that first-hand last month during the class representative battle.

  "Speaking of which, where's that girl called Kanalin?"

  "Uwa--you're right. She's gone--"

  Perhaps since she found the home get-up really embarrassing, she used her arms to cover her body and disappeared into the other end of the corridor.

  "Ah--...wait for me~"

  And so, that Nohohon-san went off in a certain direction. Uwa! She's so slow.

  "..."

  "What?"

  "Ichika, how is it? You're really popular with the girls aren't you?"

  "Huh? How did you derive that conclusion? Everyone's just feeling that it's weird having a guy around."

  "Is that so...never mind, it doesn't matter."

  Rin's expression doesn't look like it doesn't matter. She just hurriedly moves off to the cafeteria.

  Ah, really. Wait for me!

  ◇

  "Hey, did you hear that?"

  "I did I did!"

  "Huh, what are you talking about?"

  "About Orimura-kun."

  "Good things? Bad things?"

  "The best news!"

  "I want to listen!"

  "Okay okay, calm down? You can't tell the other girls. Actually during the IS tournament this month--"

  As usual, the cafeteria's crammed full of pubescent girls. And Rin and I notice the group of people gathered in a circle at a corner.

  "Hm? What's going on over there? There's a lot of people over there."

  "Maybe they're playing poker? Or maybe some divination."

  But even so, today's a lot more rowdy than usual, and there are even squeals. What's going on?

  "WHAAAAT!? IS, IS THAT TRUE!?"

  "IT'S TRUE!"

  "LIAR--! KYA--WHAT DO WE DO!?"

  Did something good happen? I can hear squeals and screams all over the place. Hm, but it's good to be happy. If humans can keep their smiles often, it seems like they won't age too fast. Anyway, we'll be struggling a lot in society, so it's better to smile when we can now. At least that's how I often feel.

  "Ichika."

  "Hm."

  On a side note, my dinner's herbal fried chicken, fried mountain greens, omelet and a red spinach miso soup. The taste of the dried fish cake is great.

  Rin's food is mostly the same as mine, but she chose clam miso soup. She continues to drink the soup as she says to me,

  "You're thinking stuff that old blockheads would think of."

  How rude.

  "No, that's definitely right. Whenever Ichika thinks of that, your eyes will narrow. What's that about. Are you in deep thought?"

  "Shu-shut up..."

  Why is she staring at me? That's enough.

  "Don't point at others with chopsticks. People will think that you've been raised improperly."

  "Doesn't matter. It's nothing too great anyway."

  "That's not the problem. You have to learn how to change your habits. Speaking of which, it's because of that that you got scolded by Chifuyu-nee."

  "Shu-shut up..."

  As expected, it seems like Rin's still scared of Chifuyu-nee, as she really looks somewhat in pain.

  "--Ichika, you."

  "Hn?"

  "...Oh well, never mind."

  What is it? Rin swallowed those words that she was about to say out, and seems like she wants to sink it deep inside as she gulps down large mouthfuls of rice.

  "..."

  "..."

  Now that the conversation got interrupted, Rin and I silently continue to eat.

  Unbelievably, the moment we stopped talking, no matter how much we chewed, we managed to finish our dinner.

  "I'll get tea. Is Bancha okay for you?"

  "O-okay. Thanks."

  Though she's just helping me, I'm rather happy that Rin's concerned about me. However, Rin's looking unhappy for some reason, causing me to stutter in my response.

  (Un, did something make her unhappy? No wait, got to find some way to calm the atmosphere down.)

  Is there something we can talk about? I start to search through the forest in my brain--oh, let's talk about Gotanda. Rin probably wants to listen about the middle school friend who she hasn't met in a long while.

  "Ah--! It's Orimura-kun!"

  "What, really? Where?"

  "Let me ask you, is that rumor tru--suu"

  In the corner at the room, a girl suddenly rushed up at me after noticing me--hm? What's that rumor about? A girl did say that, but she got shut up by the other girls...

  "It, it's nothing, nothing at all! Really, there's nothing at all! Ahhahahaha..."

  "--Idiot, didn't I tell you that's a secret?"

  "But he's the main guy involved..."

  Someone's blocking me while the others are muttering behind her."What rumor?"

  "Hn, oh? What's that?"

  "I-I say, we can talk about rumors
365 days, right!?"

  No, that's not right. That's too long. It's already a year.

  "Wha, what are you saying, Miyo!? It's only 49 days!"

  No, that's wrong as well. Speaking of which--

  "What are you hiding?"

  "We're."

  "Not."

  "Hiding anything!"

  They immediately retreated after launching a combination attack, and the process took only 2 seconds. Even I can't tell what's going on, and can only stare blankly as they vanish.

  "What did you do now?"

  Rin came back. She's holding onto two cups of hot tea that are letting out steam, making it look good.

  "Why are you treating me like a problematic person!?"

  "Don't you find that you're one?"

  ...

  "Ahh, the tea tastes good."

  "You're just trying to escape."

  You're so rude! On what basis do you say that!?

  "Fuu...a good tea after a meal sure is soothing to me, soothing."

  "...Ah, never mind, it's nothing."

  After chilling out for a while after dinner, I prepared to talk about Gotanda. Rin must have missed him--or rather, I should have called him along.

  "Speaking of which--"

  I start to talk about what happened today, and Rin was attentive to what I said until we started talking about Ran. She started to show a dark expression.

  "...So, she's going to study in IS Academy?"

  "I guess."

  "Oh..."

  For some reason, Rin and Ran don't really get along with each other. Is it because their names are similar? Assuming that there's someone with the name Ishika appearing in front of me, I'm not confident enough to believe that I can be good friends with him.

  "So when she enrolls here, I have to take care of her."

  "Oh...HOLD THAT, WHY!?"

  Rin slammed onto the table and stood up. Why, why's she angry?

  "STOP GOING ABOUT MAKING PROMISES WITH GIRLS SO EASILY!? YOU DEFINITELY CAN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY LIKE THAT, ARE YOU AN IDIOT? I SHOULD SAY YOU'RE AN IDIOT! AN IDIOT!"

  Woah, she's really angry! Speaking of which, I got scolded by her last month because of another promise.

  "No, that, well? Sorry, Rin."

  "Instead of apologizing, why don't you just stop making promises so--"

  "Ah."

  "Ah."

  "What are you 'ah-ing' about--ah!"

  What's with this scenario? Three people just went 'ah' for no reason...let me add on. I called out first, then Houki, and finally Rin.