14 The True 'sCharles's

[later]

after they had lunch and woke Cecilia up from the food poisoning, they left the roof for the arena, and watched the other new girl training with her IS, when she coincidentally glanced at the group, she frowned and said

Laura: Oy...

Ichika: ...What?

Laura: So you're also a personal IS user. No need for small talk, then - come and fight me.

Ichika: ...No way. There's no reason to.

Xiao Qiangwei: wow, you actually used your head this time...

The girls and Charles giggled at that comment while Ichika ignored him.

Laura: Not for you, but I've a reason... I can't accept that such a weak guy is the brother of my instructor, if you didn't existed... maybe she could have won that fight at the tournament...

Ichika: No, she would lose anyway...

Laura: How dare you insult her!

then she used her railgun and shot Ichika who got a bit of fear in his eyes, suddenly Xiao Qiangwei got in front of the hit and it exploded

Cecilia/Lingyin/Charles/Houki/Ichika: QIANGWEI!!

Laura: Tsk...

When the dust settled, instead of finding an heavily injured body, there was surprisingly Xiao Qiangwei with an arm extended towards the railgun and from his hand, smoke appeared, implying that he blocked the hit with that hand, and had a blank face, but the most shocking thing is that he didn't activated his IS

Laura: WHAT?!

Xiao Qiangwei: so that's your limit, huh?

Laura: you... who are you?!

Xiao Qiangwei: This one is Xiao Qiangwei, I am one of the 3 male IS pilots known in the accademy here, Champion of Mondo Grosso, the Class rep, and nicknamed Hong Long.

Laura: so the guy who defeated Instructor is you... I will make you pay for dirtying her name.

then Laura left the arena enraged, while Xiao Qiangwei's girlfriends came beside him

Cecilia/Lingyin: ARE YOU OK?!

Xiao Qiangwei: Yeah, it was nothing

Charles: Nothing?! You took a Railgun ahead!

Ichika: hey, are you aure to reveal your identity to her?

Xiao Qiangwei: yeah, if she continues to attack you, that is still not trained enough about the IS, it is a problem.

But since I directed her anger on me, who is stronger than her, then it's ok.

Ichika: You always save my ass huh?

Xiao Qiangwei: Because you can't do shit about it.

Ichika: tsk...

[later]

*Whistles*

Xiao Qiangwei was walking around the accademy while whistling something and passively cultivating the 'Great Way of the Buddha' that was almost at the 3rd stage, that gives him 10000 kg in his arms, until he heard some angry voices, Xiao Qiangwei got curious and looked at who was talking and found Laura talking to Chifuyu.

Laura: Why are you teaching at this place?!

Chifuyu: I've told you a hundred times already, I have some personal business here... that is all.

Laura: But what business could you have in this backwater place in the east?! Please, Instructor! Return with me to Germany, and assume leadership... They aren't even using half of your abilities in that place!

Almost all the students here mistake the IS for some kind of fashion trend. For you to waste your precious time on these unworthy...

Chifuyu: That's enough for you, child.

Laura stopped talking and froze in the place.

Chifuyu: How dare you presume what you can't see? For a 15 year-old, you're being needlessly arrogant.

Laura: I... That is...

Chifuyu: we're done here, go back to your room.

then Laura ran away from the place while Chifuyu calmed down and glanced at Xiao Qiangwei

Xiao Qiangwei: It seems you can find me, heh.

Chifuyu: We both know that you can do better... So how much did you hear?

Xiao Qiangwei: not much, just since she asked about why you teach here.

Chifuyu: Haaah... she is becoming an headache...

Xiao Qiangwei: it will solve itself, just give her some time and reasonings and she will be ok

Chifuyu: I hope so... I heard you were hit from a railgun, are you alright?

Xiao Qiangwei: Jesus... I am ok, it didn't any damage to me stop asking that question.

Chifuyu: Well, I was just worrying for you.

Xiao Qiangwei: sorry, it's just that I lose my temper easily... I am going then, see ya later.

Chifuyu: bye...

[later]

Xiao Qiangwei entered his room to rest, this morning, Charles became his new roommate and was now doing a shower

Xiao Qiangwei: hey Charles, I forgot to tell you that the soap ended, I am going to enter and give one to you.

then he opened the door and found a girl showering, she was Charles.

Xiao Qiangwei: You are a girl?!

Charles: Kyaaaa!!

[some minutes later]

Xiao Qiangwei: Why the fuck did you disguise as a girl?

Charles: Yeah... You see... It was Dunois company's president's idea... That man gave me the order directly.

Xiao Qiangwei: I asked 'why' not 'who'.

Charles: It was to steal some datas from yout and Ichika-san's IS...

Xiao Qiangwei: ok

Charles: Ok?

Xiao Qiangwei: well, it was an order from the man, that from your tone, you hated, and we became already friends, so why should I be angry about something impossible to do?

Charles: Impossible?

Xiao Qiangwei: yeah, maybe you could do something with the IS of Ichika, but mine is completely different, it may not even be considered as an IS from the things that are inside Hong Long.

Charles: what do you mean?

Xiao Qiangwei: don't think about it. About that company, you should not give a fuck about it.

Charles: Eh?

Xiao Qiangwei: let me tell you a story, in this world there were many people, some were stronger while some weaker, with training and strengthening yourself, you could become even a god in the sense of 'omnipotent', in this said world, there were 3 continents that were far away from each other, in one of these continents a baby was born.

This kid was considered a genius because he was so strong that at the age of 10, he could take on someone who would be considered as a really strong and experienced man and win, so the people that ruled that continent wanted the kid to become one of them, even the family wanted him to accept their request, but the kid refused because he wanted freedom.

But what he got was fake freedom, he was separated from the family and travelled many places, becoming stronger than anyone, until he was offered for something from a powerful entity, it was to abandon everything and start anew, and when he accepted it, for the first time, he felt an heavy weight fall from his shoulder and was truly free.

So I am going to offer you something. Leave everything you have, and become what you want.

Charles started tearing up and smiled

Charles: YES!! I ACCEPT!

*thud*

then they heard the door fall and turned to see Cecilia and Lingyin over the fallen door, they seemed like they were listening to everything

Cecilia: You are really a girl...

Charles: W-what are you two doing here?

Lingyin: well, he's our boyfriend, we wanted to visit him but when we heard you were a girl we just eavesdropped...

Charles: 'Your'?

Cecilia: yes, our, before me and Lin-san fought for his hand but later we decided to share him, and it is going good, Lin-san is even teaching me to cook.

Xiao Qiangwei: How is it going?

Lingyin: there's still a long way...

Charles: then... can you keep my identity a secret?

Xiao Qiangwei: yeah, right girls?

Cecilia/Lingyin: Yes!

then Charles smiled

Charles: thank you, guys...