Volume 8 - CH 4

“WAAHH!?”

I wipe the dripping sweat off my body and got up.

“I-I dreamt that Rin died…”

Eh, huh? Where is this?

“The infirmary—no, the treatment room, is it?”

This is a place with equipment at the same level as that of an elite hospital, and I guess it’s a corner of IS Academy.

(Hm~, I get the feeling that I’ve been coming here recently.)

I remember I used this bed during the attack on the Academy recently.

“…You woke up?”

Eh, huh? Somebody’s on the bed next to me.

“…”

I opened the curtain without hesitation, and saw Tatenashi-san, putting on her shirt without wearing a bra.

Boing, the busts are still as nicely curved as before—

“WAAAAHHH!? I’M SORRY! I’M SORRY!”

I hurriedly pull the curtain back, but it’s too late. The lance of the IS ‘Mysterious Lady’ immediately stabs over.

“I, chi, ka, kun~? This onee-san won’t allow for anything like this, you know…”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Tell me to do whatever you want me to do, so please forgive me!”

The lance immediately stops.

“You’ll do anything?”

…Geh, I’m dead.

“Y-yes, anything that can actually happen in reality…”

I affirm tentatively. At this point, the tip of the lance is already pointed 1cm away from my neck.

“Th-then—”

I hear the sound of a gulp…eh?

“P-please…do perverted things to me too…”

…

……

………

“Eh…?”

“I-I heard it from Kanzashi-chan! You did all sorts of lewd things in the computer world at your own whims, right? I don’t allow it! The student council doesn’t allow it! The student council president doesn’t allow it!”

“N-no, erm, that’s the trap set by the hacker.”

“Yo-you still want to argue? You’re trying to argue back? Are you trying to argue back?”

Wh-why is Tatenashi-san being so angry? Speaking of which, I think there’s a huge misunderstanding created here…

“Erm, Tatenashi-san, please calm down…”

Or else my neck’s going to be stabbed through by the lance.

“How do you expect me to calm down!?”

It hurts! The lance reaches over and pokes at my skin.

“Uwah! An-anyway, please keep the lance!”

“Ah, sorry…”

Her voice soon calms down, and her lance disappears into light particles.

“…”

“…”

What follows is silence on both sides.

I secretly glance over at the other side through the hole in the curtain, and Tatenashi-san too look over at the same.

““!!””

Both of us then look away at the same time…ugh…what is this.

“Er-erm, Ichika-kun…”

“Wha-what is it?”

“Can I, go over to your side?”

“What?”

What do you mean?

“An-anyway, look over at the other side!”

“Ye-yes!”

I follow what she said, and turn away to lie down with my back facing Tatenashi-san’s bed.

“Erm, Tatenashi-san?”

“Wh-what is it?”

“Why are you on the patient bed?”

“…I’m injured.”

Yeah…wahey, this isn’t what I want to ask!

“No, why must you get onto my bed!?”

“It’s fine as long as our backs are facing each other, right?”

“Eh? Ah, haa, well, yes.”

Ah, I actually gave my consent.

“…Good.”

What’s she trying to do, seriously…

“Th-thanks.”

“Heh?”

“Well…thanks for coming over to help me.”

“Ah, that, well, isn’t that to be expected?”

“I-I was really happy.”

“I-I understand.”

Tatenashi-san’s voice suddenly becomes forceful at the end, and I inadvertently straighten myself.

“…”

“…”

Then, there’s silence on both sides.

I don’t know how long this will continue, and Tatenashi-san’s body warmth from behind me cause my heart to flutter.

“Well, Ichika-kun…do you remember that I’m called Tatenashi because that’s the name of the Sarashiki family head?”

“Hm, yeah, I do.”

I suddenly recalled her doing so.

“I’ll tell you now…my real name.”

A little breath rings at my ear gently.

I feel that warmth that causes my heart to race, and Tatenashi-san whispers to me with a soft yet clear voice.

“Sarashiki—Katana.”

After saying this, Tatenashi-san quickly returns to her bed.

(Her real name, huh…?)

I can’t understand the reason why Tatenashi-san wants to tell me this, but once I feel that I can understand her slightly, my heart feels a little happy.

◇

“…”

At a café located at a coastal park not too far away from IS Academy, a girl was sitting alone at a table.

The girl’s name was Chloe, the pilot of the IS ‘Kurokagi’[1], someone who swore loyalty to Tabane.

(Mission complete…got to leave this place.)

She put down the coffee she did not even take a sip from, and had already cooled; just when she was about to turn away and leave.

“Let me have a seat too.”

Guh! The girl, who had a creed to remain calm, was shocked inside.

Even with her eyes close, she could tell whose voice it was from her internal data.

“Orimura…Chifuyu…”

“Well, take a seat. This is your coffee. Are you fine with black coffee?”

“…”

I can’t escape.

With this instinctive understanding, Chloe sat on the chair with trepidation.

She received the coffee while enduring her trembling hand.

“Well, let me conclude this—tell Tabane not to do anything unnecessary.”

—No choice but to kill her.

The moment she thought of that.

“—Give it up, don’t think about it. Your fighting ability alone won’t be able to kill me, even if you use an IS.”

“…!”

Chloe opened her tightly closed eyes.

Her eyes were of strange colors; her left eye was black, and her right eye was golden.

“An IS developed together with a biological body? Has that Tabane developed it to this extent?”

Fuu. Chifuyu sighed and put down her coffee cup.

At that moment, Chifuyu was locked in a pure white world where the dimensions were unknown.

“Hm…I see. Interfering with the opponent’s mind in the computer world, and using air in reality to cause illusions? Quite impressive.”

Chifuyu mutters, uses her hand to parry away the knife pointed at her neck, and then uses the momentum to pick up the spoon on the table to stab at the pure white space.

“Wanna have a go?”

It was Chloe’s complete defeat.

Chloe undid her ability without hesitation.

“That’s the correct choice. See you then.”

Chifuyu finished her coffee, and got up from her seat.

“Speaking of which, is it alright for you not to meet your little sister?”

“That’s…not my little sister…she’s an incomplete me…the completed form of Laura Bodewig.”

And so, she added on,

“I’m Chloe Chronicle.”

She muttered out the most precious name she got from Tabane.

Upon hearing that, Chifuyu seemed to be somewhat satisfied, “is that so”, and walked out of the shop.

Chloe, who’s left behind, takes a sip of coffee that has no warmth in it left.

“…It’s bitter.”

Then, Chloe too head out of the shop.

…Not realizing that someone was tailing her.

◇

“Then, I guess there are no problems now…”

Squall finishes her make up in the hotel room, and sprays the perfume as a finishing touch.

She’s still dressed in a luxurious and gorgeous dress that was worth several hundred thousand yen, and had a necklace with all sorts of diamonds and precious stones of all sizes, earrings, rings, bracelets, impeccable all over.

“…”

The one beside her with nothing to do was M.

She’s fooling around with the locket hanging in front of her chest, looking into space.

“What is it, M? Are you still unhappy about having to go eat together?”

“…I have no reason to go.”

“You have. Don’t I need a bodyguard?”

“Don’t kid around.”

M—Orimura Madoka, who knew about Squall and the other IS capabilities very well, can only feel sarcasm in these words.

“Then, let’s move out.”

“Fuun…”

“Smile a little. We’re meeting that Shinonono Tabane today.”

“…”

In the end, Madoka could only follow Squall out of reluctance, or unwilling obedience.

◇

“Un, un, this meat’s delicious. Ah, wine please~”

The one indulging in her food without restraint was the rare genius in the world, the amazing scientist who created the IS, Shinonono Tabane.

As for how they managed to invite this Tabane, who’s being searched for all over the world, to this underground restaurant—only Squall knew.

“Are you satisfied? Professor Tabane?”

“Hm? Well, everything’s fine except for the sleeping drug in the soup~”

Even as her plan was revealed, Squall showed no change in expression.

What was more surprising however was that Tabane finished off the bowl of soup with sleeping drug in it, but showed no signs of being affected.

(Well, this is to be expected. It’s ‘that’ Shinonono Tabane after all)

Squall had her elbows on the table, giving a smiling look on her face.

“Then, Professor Tabane, can you please consider about what we discussed?”

“What is it?”

“About creating new IS for us ‘Phantom task’. With the cores, of course.”

“Ahaha, nope~. That’s very troublesome.”

Tabane had no intention of hinting that she could still create new IS cores.

“Please help no matter want.”

“I refuse—ah—I want cake, hamburger, curry and Chinese cold dishes.”

Tabane continued to munch on the pork ribs and stared at the menu indecently as she continued to place orders.

“Fuu…you won’t agree no matter how we ask?”

“Un.”

“Then, how about this?”

Squall clicked her finger.

Chloe, who was restrained, appeared just like a movie scene, with Autumn pointing a knife at her neck.

“If that’s the case, how about some steak from this little fawn?”

“…go.”

“Yes.”

“Let go.”

Tabane smiles, and at the next moment, she throws all the knives and forks at Squall.

“!?”

Tabane then stepped on Squall, who immediately defended herself, leapt, stepped off the ceiling, and charged right into Autumn’s clutches.

She snapped Autumn’s hand as the latter was about to hurriedly swing the blade down, and immediately stabbed the knife into Autumn’s right lung directly.

“Wha—”

Then, she sent palm strikes at the left shoulder, left torso, and left flank, breaking Chloe away from Autumn.

Autumn was sent flying back with a kick, and slammed into the wine cellar with a loud crash.

“Kuu-chan, are you alright nya—?”

“Y-yes…Tabane-sama.”

Tabane untied Chloe barehandedly, and smiled to the latter gently.

“Let me tell you. I’m always called a genius here and there by everyone, but that’s not just in terms of thinking and brain ability, you know!”

Ufufu, she embraced Chloe from behind as she explained.

“My physical body is over-speced to the cellular level.”

This was Squall’s complete miscalculation.

She originally thought that even if the hostage was not of any use, she could use her IS ‘Golden Dawn’ to suppress Tabane in the worst case scenario.

But—this devastation resulted.

If Tabane were to get serious, Squall didn’t know if she could win even if she activated her IS.

No, she wasn’t certain if she had an opportunity to activate her IS.

“Only Chi-chan, I suppose, can fight me on physical terms.”

Tabane continued with her back facing Squall, and the latter gritted her teeth unhappily.

But at this moment, a sudden change happened.

“Don’t move.”

Madoka, who had been on standby outside, probably heard the commotion here, and charged into the restaurant with her IS ‘Silent Zephyrs’ activated.

(—Nice going, M, perfect timing.)

Now the chances are at 50-50—it was naïve of Squall to think so.

“Hmm, that’s an interesting unit you have.”

Tabane instantly closes the distance between them, and actually stands on the rifle barrel nonchalantly.

“!?”

The moment Madoka thought about shaking her off, the rifle was ‘disassembled’ into pieces by Tabane’s 10 fingers.

Then, the armor, helmet and everything else was ‘disassembled’, vanishing into light particles like Sakura petals fluttering in the air.

After the armor on the head was ‘disassembled’, Tabane stopped her fingers.

“Nn? Nnnn?”

“…”

Tabane continued to stare at Madoka’s face without moving.

Madoka did not dare to move at all.

It felt as if her physical body would be ‘disassembled’ too if she made a single move.

“Aha.”

“…?”

“Ahahaha! What’s your name?”

Tabane’s troubled by this sudden laugh.

“Aha, ahaha, how about I make guess? Fu, fufu.”

Tabane’s laughing away with her hands on her belly, ostensibly finding it funny.

“Orimura—Madoka, right?”

““!?””

Squall and Madoka showed shocked expressions at the same time.

“Bingo! Hehe, in that case.”

Un~, after making a thinking look, Tabane turned to Squall and said,

“Hey, if it’s this kid’s personal machine, I can make a new one for you♪”

“Eh—”

Madoka however was the one who let out a shocked voice.

“That’s why, eheheh! Come over to my side, nn. Hey, hey, can I take this kid away?”

“I-I’ll be troubled here…”

Squall could only show a bitter expression.

Besides, Madoka was her only trump card at this point.

If she were to be taken away, there would be huge hurdles in the please.

“Why? You’re so petty. Well, it doesn’t matter. Hey, hey, Madocchi, what kind of personalized machine do you wish for? Long distanced? Close distanced? Special armed? Armor focused? Or mobility focused?”

Tabane showed an urge to create as her eyes were dazzling like a child holding a crayon.

“Well, it’s fine to leave this topic aside for now! Right, let’s eat together. Kuu-chan and Madocchi, yours won’t grow bigger if you don’t eat a lot~”

Tabane raised her ample breasts as she laughed away as the only one enjoying herself; everyone else present could only look at her flabbergasted.

◇

“Ah.”

It has been a few days since the hacker incident, and I unfortunately end up meeting the 5 people I had been trying my best to avoid recently—Houki, Rin, Cecilia, Charl and Laura.

“…”

Right now, we’re in our first year cafeteria.

Looks like I’m ambushed here.

“Ah, ahh~, I left something in my room…”

I then make a U-turn.

“Wait.”

“Please wait.”

“Please hold on.”

“Hold on.”

“You’re not stopping?”

—Ugh, I’m caught.

“What is it?”

“You’ve been avoiding us recently, right?”

Ack.

“That’s right, Ichika-san! That’s rude to ladies, you know.”

No, even though you say so…

“Humph! You must have done something shameful.”

What!

“I say, I’m the one who should be saying this!”

“Huh!?”

“That’s not gentlemanly at all, Ichika-san!”

“What are you saying, you?”

“Explain further, Ichika!”

“That’s right!”

To the people curling their lips unhappily at me, I clearly say,

“You people! What kind of delusions do you have about me!? I’m embarrassed to see you people!”

“Eh…”

“Erm, that’s…”

“A-are you talking about, what happened before…”

“Th-the computer world…”

“We-we’ve told you to forget about it!”

All of them show awkward expressions.

I then proceed to quip,

“DO YOU THINK I CAN FORGET ABOUT SUCH THINGS!!!!”

I carelessly yell out, but the other students immediately find out.

“Eh—What what? The representative cadets had something with Orimura-kun again?”

“Orimu, you’re doing it again.”

Murmuring occurs, and soon, people start to gather.

And the worst thing is that the 2nd year Mayuzumi-senpai is here for some reason.

Damn it, this is going onto the Academy’s newspaper headlines again.

“Leader, I just heard the terms ‘delusion’ and ‘embarrassed’!”

“Oh, good good! What other news do you know?”

“Recently, Orimu has been on very good terms with Kanzashi-chan.”

Because of that line from Nohohon-san, swoosh, everyone proceeds to look at Kanzashi.

“…Eh?”

Tok, Kanzashi’s so frightened that she drops the broccoli she’s eating onto the table.

Ohh, it’s a good habit to eat yellow and green vegetables.

“And also, Laura-chan said to forget about something!”

“Mumumu, there’s no doubt about what’s going on. My pen’s burning, burning!”

Th-this has seriously gotten out of hand.

“I thought Orimura-kun would be the uke; maybe he’s the seme?”

“Kyaah!! The carnivorous Orimura-kun is so moe~”

“I always thought he’s the tempting uke!”

“Maybe he’s an animal…no, he’s a beast!”

That’s a forbidden beast mode! Someone shouted.

Seriously, what the…

“OI, what’s with this stupid commotion?”

Pita. Time seems to stand still as everyone freezes in place.

Th-this chilling ice-like voice belongs to no one other than Chifuyu-nee.

“Ah, well, Chifuyu-nee, this…”

“Call me Orimura-sensei.”

GONK…thank you for your teaching today.

“Hurry up and disperse! Seriously…”

And so, the noisy night ended just like this—or so I thought.

◇

In the middle of the night, on the corridor of the student dormitory…

“Ah.”

“Ahh.”

Two profile met in front of the door with the name Orimura on it.

One was a twin-tailed flat-chested girl with a lively impression.

The other was a model-like girl with curly hair and a regal presence.

“Ceci—”

“Rin-san.”

Both of them nearly let out voices, and hurriedly covered each other’s mouths.

And then, they start whispering softly to each other.

“What are you doing here?

“What about you, Rin-san? Why’re you dressed in such thin clothing…”

“I-isn’t it obvious that I’ll wear something thinner while sleeping? What about you, Cecilia? It’s lewd.”

“Wh-what? This is my usual nightgown when I sleep.”

“Then hurry up and go back to sleep. Why’re you here?”

“That’s my line, Rin-san. You should hurry back to the room—”

GAK!

““Ah?””

Upon hearing something break, Rin and Cecilia charge in through the room.

“Fu, fufu…I caught IChika.”

“Wa-wait Laura. This isn’t good…”

““Ahh.””

““Ahh.””

The teams of Cecilia/Rin and Laura/Charlotte stared at each other.

“Charlotte, take Ichika and retreat.”

“Y-yes…wait, huh?”

Charlotte suddenly saw the face of the person Laura rolled up.

“Muum—umm—~”

It’s Yamada-sensei, the vice homeroom teacher, Yamada Maya.

“What’s going on? What are you doing?”

“Yamada-sensei, wh-why…?”

“I’m sleeping in this room tonight on Orimura-sensei’s request!”

“Gek!”

Rin immediately showed clear disdain on her face.

“Th-then, I’ll make my leave…”

Cecilia’s trying to sneak away.

“Let’s go back and sleep for today then.”

Laura’s trying to escape from the window.

“Th-that’s right.”

Charlotte too tried to escape at this moment.

“““So then!”””

BAKK!! Maya used her IS to catch the quartet that were exchanging looks and trying to escape.

“…I have to give you a lecture tonight!”

Wah—wah—gyah—gyah—someone heard this commotion at the corner of the corridor.

“Th-thank goodness I didn’t go…”

Houki said this.

“Yeah…”

And Kanzashi.

After that, the quartet caught by Yamada-sensei had a sleepless night…