Chapter IV: Mysterious Lady

“Tatenashi! Shit, you killed Tatenashi!”

Tatenashi’s expression remained unchanged, even with the mechanical legs impaling her. Looking more closely, I saw that not a drop of blood had spilled from her wounds.

“What’s going on?! That felt like stabbing through nothing!”

“Fufufu.” Tatenashi grinned, briefly, before fading into thin air with a hiss of steam.

“Was that just water?!”

“Correct. A decoy made of water.” Tatenashi’s voice, completely calm, called out from directly behind Autumn. As Autumn spun around, Tatenashi swung her lance in a wide arc.

“Ugh!”

“Oh, did I miss? That IS of yours is quite mobile, isn’t it.”

“Who the hell are you?!”

“Sarashiki Tatenashi. And the IS Mysterious Lady. Remember it well.” Tatenashi grinned again.

Her IS was like none Ichika had ever seen before. Its armor was small and tight-fitting, but covering the gaps was a transparent fluid field, almost like a dress made purely of water. What caught my eye the most about the Mysterious Lady’s unique appearance were the two crystalline parts floating at its sides. Those ‘aqua crystals’ extended a veil of water which swirled around Tatenashi like a cape. Wrapping around the massive lance in her hand was a spiral of water, which began to spin as if the entire thing was a drill.

“Gah! I’ll kill you right here!”

“Ahaha. Playing the villain, are you? Don’t you know that only assures my victory?”

Tatenashi plunged forward with her lance as she taunted Autumn, seeking to strike while warding off attacks with its bulk, parrying Arachne’s eight mechanical legs and Autumn’s own two arms with only a single weapon.

“Dammit! You’re full of yourself, kid!” Autumn slipped a pair of katars out of sheathes on her hip armor, and swung with them as her mechanical legs returned fire in ranged mode.

“A scattershot attack like that will do nothing against water.” The hail of fire was easily stopped by Tatenashi’s veil. As each bullet struck, it froze within the flowing water, robbed of its momentum.

“That isn’t just water!”

“My, you’re a clever one. It’s shaped by nanomachines which conduct my IS’ energy. Impressive, if I do say so myself.” Tatenashi stayed on the attack as she spoke, and Autumn’s skillful attacks with the katars were parried with the lance, and even kicked down when they got too close.

“Just who the hell are you?!”

“I thought I already introduced myself.”

“You stuck-up little bitch!”

Autumn’s frustration began to get the better of her as she failed to land a single blow. Tatenashi, meanwhile, was the picture of perfect calm, maintaining absolute composure as she gradually ground forward.

“Did you know? The student council president is the strongest student here.”

“Who gives a shit?!”

Autumn suddenly threw the katar from her left hand, leaping forward in the opening this created. At the same time as it struck Tatenashi, she kicked the lance downward toward the floor.

“Oh my.”

“Eat this!” Autumn pressed the attack, four mechanical legs firing while the other four struck with their blades.

“Ah, yes. Intense indeed.”

“Hahaha! Still feel like talking shit? ‘Strongest’? Give me a break!” Autumn was right. Tatenashi was beginning to stagger under the relentless assault. She may have had armor to rely on, but the strikes were beginning to land on it.

“Tatenashi!”

“Just rest, Ichika. Leave it all to me. All you have to do is believe.”

“You stupid kid! Stop pretending you’re not in deep shit!” Autumn had broken through Tatenashi’s defenses, and delivered a crushing kick to her, sending her flying backwards. At the same time, she wove a web in her hands, and wrapped it around Tatenashi, trapping her. “You... You little... You’re really a fuckin’ handful... Kid!”

“Oh dear, I can’t move.”

“This time I’ve got you pinned down!” The joints of her eight mechanical legs clanked as they slowly extended toward Tatenashi. But there wasn’t a single hint of panic or fear in her face.

“Hey, is it just me or is it getting hot in here?”

“What?”

“I mean, not actually hot, but it certainly feels that way.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You know, the heat index is based on humidity. So, I guess, is it just me or is it humid in here?”

“......?!”

It was only then that Autumn noticed the mist filling the room. A thick cloud of it wrapped around her body.

“Ahh, that’s the expression I’ve been waiting to see. The moment when you realize your plan failed.”

Tatenashi wore the unfathomable smile of a goddess. But behind it was all the certain doom of the Grim Reaper’s skeletal leer.

“Mysterious Lady... The Lady of the Mists. It can control water as if it was an extension of itself. And, as I told you before, the nanomachines which do this can conduct energy straight from the IS.”

“D-Dammit!”

“Too slow.” Tatenashi snapped her fingers. In the next moment, Autumn was swallowed by an explosion. “Ahahah. Did you really think I told you that because I wanted to show off, or because I liked to overshare? I told you it because I wanted to see the look of shock on your face.”

This was ‘Clear Passion’—an attack which used the nanomachines flowing through the water to superheat it, enveloping the target in explosions. It may only be effective in a limited area, but every move she makes in a fight contributes to setting it up, so it’s extremely useful in real combat.

“Guh... Ugh... This... This isn’t over yet!”

“No, I’m pretty sure it is. Right, Ichika?”

Autumn, filled with dread, turned around. Before her was Ichika, grasping his right forearm while focusing intently.

“Come, Byakushiki!”

He was wrapped in light, then—

◇

Tatenashi said to ‘believe.’ She must have meant to believe in Byakushiki. I’d never seen something turn out so conveniently. But still, I believed it would this time. Byakushiki will respond. As long as... As long as I keep calling for it!

“Come, Byakushiki!”

I focused intently on my right arm, and soon enough, I could see a warm glow even though my eyes were squeezed shut. Then... In my right hand, the core materialized—no, was summoned.

“Byakushiki, emergency materialization! Yukihira Nigata, full power!”

The core’s glow changed to particles of light which wrapped around me. The feeling in my hand changed from the core to the firm weight of a weapon and I opened my eyes. I can do this! Byakushiki was already fully materialized, and I synchronized my thoughts with it as I rushed at Autumn. As I raised my blade over my head, I felt Reiraku Byakuya activate.

“What the fuck?! How did you—”

“I don’t even know! But take this!”

“GWAHH!”

Her eight mechanical legs came together, stopping my slash over her head. But I pressed harder, refusing to be stopped, and soon it carved through them.

“What the—”

I could see Autumn move in slow motion, framed by the wreckage of her IS’ legs. No. She wasn’t moving that slow. I was moving that fast.

“GUH!”

I landed a kick propelled by both Ignition Boost and my thrusters at full power, and Autumn flew back into the wall. It was forceful enough to leave cracks in the wall I could see into the next room through.

“Ichika, tie her up!”

“Got it!”

“D-Dammit... Is this the end?” Autumn muttered. With a sucking whoosh, her IS detached from her body onto the floor.

“What?!”

“ICHIKA!”

It began to glow, and a few seconds later erupted in a massive explosion. I was almost caught in it, but Tatenashi dove in front of me to keep me safe.

“Are you okay, Ichika?”

Her water veil had extended as far as possible to defend me. No matter how effective an IS’ emergency defenses were, eating that at close range definitely would leave a mark.

“I... I think... Wait! Where’d she go?!”

“She got away. It looks like she recovered her IS’ core just before the explosion, too. So only the weapons and armor detonated. That was really risky. If she failed, she would have blown herself up.” Tatenashi was cool, matter-of-fact, rather than her usual playfulness.

“Really. Anyway, um...”

“Yes?”

“It’d be nice if you let me go.”

The force of the explosion had pressed Tatenashi into me. Meaning... Her breasts were squeezed directly into my face, and, ummm—

“Aww. Ichika, you’re such a pervert.”

“Wait, no, it isn’t like that! It’s just, it was an emergency, so...”

“It’s not very manly to make excuses like that, is it? Now tell me, what did you think of my breasts?”

“.........”

“Nothing to say? That’s so mean.”

“Well, uh... They were soft... And...”

“Ichika.”

“Yes?”

“You’re such a pervert.”

I gave up on arguing with her about it and hung my head. Today had just been too much. You know the feeling where you just want to go home and take a bath? That’s how I felt.

“And what do we have here?” Tatenashi dangled a certain something from her fingertip as she teased me.

“Eh? The crown. What about it?”

“Ah, yes, the crown. The wonderful prize which grants its holder the right to live in Ichika’s room.”

“What?! Is that why all the girls wanted it so badly?”

“Yeah.”

“How did you even come up with that? It’s not even like it’s any fun to live with me.”

“Maybe, maybe not. Anyway, looks like I’m the one that ended up with it.”

I had a bad feeling about what was gonna happen— no, what already had happened.

“So, looks like we’re together for a little longer while, I-chi-ka!”

Mentally and physically exhausted, I slumped backwards.

◇

Shit! Shit, shit, shit! Autumn sprinted across the grounds of IS Academy while cursing bitterly to herself. This was supposed to be an easy job! That little whore set me up!

Today’s mission had gone off the rails before it had even started. The initial idea had been to catch Ichika in his dorm room, but his new roommate had meant a sudden change of plans.

I knew she was bad news from the day she showed up! Autumn’s mind raced as she thought of her aloof, arrogant co-conspirator. The one whose haughtiness was visible in every gaze. The one who had designed the ‘Remover,’ and who had planned this mission.

What the hell is the point of that thing, anyway? If he can summon his IS from outside its range, it’s useless! It was definitely useless now. Once an IS was hit with it once, it developed a resistance. Wait! That must be it! The process of the IS being removed developed that resistance. Then, because of the newfound resistance, it could be summoned from long range.

I was set up to fail. Autumn latched onto the conclusion that the girl who created the Remover must have understood that would happen. I’ll kill her! Kill, kill, kill! I can’t believe she humiliated me like that! Grinding her teeth in anger, she suddenly realized that she had escaped to a park outside IS Academy.

Damn, I’m thirsty... I need to find some water... Looking from left to right, her eyes eventually latched onto a fountain. Thinking she could spare a few moments, she swiftly walked toward it. I’ll kill that kid! I don’t care what Squall has to say about it!

Turning the spigot, she let water spray forth. Lapping up the flow like a dog, she turned her thoughts to how exactly she’d kill the new girl. Nice and slow... Hee-hee... Suddenly, she realized that the water flowing down her throat had stopped.

What? Is it broken? She looked back at the fountain and gasped incredulously. The water’s flow was being blocked in midair.

“What?!”

The spatter of the water hitting what almost seemed like a transparent plank floating in the air was soaking Autumn’s clothes, but she was more worried about something else. This must be... AIC! She tried to leap backward away from the fountain, but the AIC was already holding her feet down. Instead, she crumpled to the ground from the inertia.

“Shit! Is this that German IS?!”

“That’s right, Phantom Task.” Laura’s quiet voice hung in the air. It was as chill and regal as a mountain glacier. “Don’t move. Our sniper already has a bead drawn right between your eyes.”

“Ugh!”

“Now spit it out. Everything about your organization.”

Due to her military background, Laura had already known a small amount about Phantom Task. And now, there was this raid. And their use of IS. Phantom Task was shaping up to be a considerable foe.

“Your IS is a second generation American model. Where’d you get it? Tell me.”

“I ain’t telling you shit!”

The process of creating IS cores had never been revealed. Meaning, Autumn’s must have been stolen from somewhere. However, the loss of even a single core was a major incident weakening national defenses, so its source wouldn’t have revealed the theft. In any case, any organization capable of planning and executing a mission to hijack an IS must have had significant resources at its disposal.

“That’s fine. I’m fairly experienced in conducting interrogations. So it looks like you and I are going to be spending a lot of time together.”

Laura began to pace toward Autumn, but suddenly, Cecilia cut in over a private channel, “Get away from her! We’ve got a bogey closing in!”

“What...?” Just as Laura swept the area with her sensors, a laser struck her in the right shoulder. “Ugh!”

Quickly, she flipped up her eyepatch and activated the hypersensor-enhancing Wodan-Auge system. However, it was all she could do to avoid the following two laser shots.

“Laura! Get out of there!” Cecilia had already traced the shots back to their source, and lined up the oncoming IS in her sights. “Is... Is that—”

She recognized the form enlarged by her scope. It was the second BT IS, Silent Zephyrus. It was equipped with experimental shielding bits based off data gathered from its predecessor, Cecilia’s own Blue Tears.

“What are you doing? Hurry up, Cecilia! Shoot!”

“Tch.”

Cecilia squeezed off a few aimed shots with her laser rifle, but the bits repositioned to block the fire, preventing her from landing a clean hit. Scrambling for options, she deployed her own bits, only for the Silent Zephyrus to pick them out of the sky. It can aim that precisely at full speed?! I can’t believe its rate of fire! Cecilia was shocked at being so cleanly outmatched. She didn’t have much time to think, though, as the Silent Zephyrus’s own bits circled around to her six.

“Then—” She fired her missile bits directly downward, planning to adjust their trajectories in midair and catch the incoming enemy in a blind spot. Cecilia was sure of success—until she saw something unbelievable happen. “Wha—”

The beams bent in midair, shooting down each missile bit. Polarization trajectory control?! That’s only possible with a BT weapon acting at full operational efficiency! It can’t— She froze, dumbstruck at what she saw. I’m the active pilot with the highest BT compatibility! So how?!

“What are you doing?! Don’t let that hit you!”

Cecilia’s breath caught. Laura body-checked Cecilia out of the way, taking the brunt of the laser barrage herself. It was only while watching the Schwarzer Regen’s armor melt away that Cecilia snapped back to herself, but by then, the attacker had already made it to Autumn’s side.

“Your ride’s here, Autumn.”

“Goddammit! Why do you have to be so casual about this!”

A hail of fire from a compact laser gatling kept Laura or Cecilia from closing in. At the same time, a glowing pink knife cut through the AIC field, freeing Autumn.

“Is this the best Advanced that German science can produce?”

The enemy pilot wore a visor-type hypersensor which revealed only her mouth. But Laura could see that it was twisted into a cruel smirk.

“Damn you! How do you know about that?!”

“I don’t need to tell you. Anyway.”

Holding Autumn, she soared into the air and away. A few moments later, the bits which were pinning Laura and Cecilia down self-destructed, their mission complete.

“Laura! Get a hold of the academy! I’ll go after her!”

“No! You’ll never catch up now. And in the condition we’re in now, we’d never win.”

“.........”

Cecilia pursed her lips in frustration as she watched the enemy fly away. Soon enough, she was gone like the wind, leaving not a single trace. Laura and Cecilia each sensed a storm approaching.

◇

“...And that’s how it is.”

“Phew...”

Nighttime, in my dorm room. With the school festival over, Tatenashi was giving me the details on what really happened. About how a shadowy organization had recently ramped up operations, and when it was determined to be targeting me, she had moved into my room as a protective measure.

“So... Just who are you really, Tatenashi?”

“A kind girl, the type you’d love to have as a big sister?”

“I’m already full up on those.”

“I guess, but anyway. The Sarashiki family has always specialized in this sort of behind-the-scenes operation. Like, you understand the meaning of ‘working in the shadows’?”

Working in the shadows—so, doing things behind the scenes that can’t or shouldn’t be officially acknowledged?

“So the Sarashikis work in the shadows to counter other groups working in the shadows? That’s... pretty impressive.”

Tatenashi giggled as she snapped her fan open. On it was written ‘Semper paratus.’ Sometimes I just had no answer for her...

“But now that that’s dealt with, I can relax a bit.”

“So you’ll be changing rooms now? That’s—” I cut myself off before I could finish with ‘a relief.’ I didn’t want to think about how she’d react to hearing that. “...I’ll be lonely.”

Giggling, she replied, “Don’t worry. I’ll be here a little while longer. After all, I’m the one who ended up with the crown.”

Ugh. Right, that happened.

“Even after I move out, you can come sleep over whenever you get lonely.”

“No thanks, I think I’ll be fine.”

If I didn’t at least say that, who knew where this conversation would go. I couldn’t leave any openings for someone like her.

“Aww. I thought you’d appreciate the offer.”

“Sure, sure. I’m turning the lights out.”

“Mhm. Let’s get a good night’s sleep.”

As the lights faded, I lay down in bed. I was exhausted, and I quickly began to drift off.

“Goodnight, Ichika. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

That was the last thing I heard before falling asleep.

◇

“Everyone, you did an excellent job at the school festival recently. I’m now going to announce the results of the voting.”

Meaning, the results of the battle over me. I felt like I could hear the entire student body, all packed into the gym, gulp in nervous unison.

“Number one is... The student council’s production of Cinderella!”

“EHHHHH?” Everyone’s mouths hung open in surprise. A few seconds later, the crowd erupted in boos.

“That’s cheating! No fair! Election fraud!”

“How’d it end up the student council? That doesn’t even make any sense!”

“We worked so hard!”

After motioning for silence, Tatenashi continued, “The requirement to participate as an audience member was, after all, to vote for the student council. We did not require participation. You chose this for yourselves.”

So that’s what she was getting out of it... I wasn’t shocked, so much as just in awe. That had been an extremely clever plan. But her explanation wasn’t enough to quiet the booing.

“Please, please, calm down. As a member of the student council, Orimura Ichika will be assigned to liaison with each club as appropriate. Since he’s a boy, he’ll be unable to compete in varsity sports, but he will still be made available as a manager or assistant. Please fill out an application and submit it to the student council.”

Wait, what?

“Well, I guess...”

“I suppose that’s fair enough.”

“Lucky us, our club had no chance of winning anyway.”

I could hear a few mutters of acceptance from around me before the crowd erupted in campaigning for their club.

“All right, let’s get him started at the soccer club!”

“What are you talking about? Lacrosse should be first!”

“There’s the cooking club too.”

“Here! Right over here! The tea ceremony club is right here!”

“The kendo club will be fine with taking him second.”

“Judo! Ooh, pick judo! We need to work on our ground game!”

C’mon, hold it! Why don’t I get any input on this?!

“Then, since there seem to be no objections, Orimura Ichika will be joining the student council under my direction.” As Tatenashi concluded her proclamation, the crowd erupted in claps and cheers.

Eh? What? What the heck was this? I was on the student council? But I was being lent out to each club?

“And what do you mean, ‘under your direction’?!”

I had a bad feeling about this. A very bad feeling.

“Goodnight, Ichika. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.” I suddenly remembered her words last night. Is this what she meant?! I didn’t know how serious she was about this whole thing. All I knew is that fighting it would help nothing.

◇

“Congratulations on your appointment as student council vice president, Orimura Ichika!”

“Congraaaaats...”

“Congratulations. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

Tatenashi, Miss Casual, and Utsuho, in that order. After each congratulated me in her own way, they all set off party poppers.

We were in the student council room. A lavishly imposing desk was ensconced directly before the window. Like high rollers and bosses always had in the movies.

“Why, though?”

“Doesn’t it tie up all the loose ends neatly? I mean, you had to join one club or another. The principal even suggested using my authority to force you into one.”

“Well, y’know, if you joined a club... Maybe a few people would have given up...”

“But the vast majority would still have demanded your presence in theirs, I believe. Therefore, the student council has adopted this measure.”

It seemed like they were quite used to finishing each other’s sentences. Realizing that it was no use arguing any further, I slumped in my seat and said, “So you’re not even gonna get my opinion on it...”

“Oh, could that be it? Are three gorgeous girls not enough for you?”

“She’s kinda right... Orimu, you’re surrounded by cuties here.”

“I’m not entirely sure what they mean to imply by that, but I certainly think your duties here will serve as valuable experience in the future.”

At least for now, it seemed like Utsuho was the only one who was taking this seriously. Resignedly, I started to ask her what those duties might be, “Um... So, I should start coming here after class every day?”

“For now, correct. Once we assign you to a club, you’ll operate under their schedule.”

“Got it.”

“Oh, and may I ask you one thing?”

“Huh? What is it?”

For once, Utsuho seemed like she was dancing around the point. I watched her in curiosity as she opened her mouth to speak once, then twice, before finally squeezing it out.

“The friend you brought to the school festival. What was his name?”

“Huh? Oh, you mean Dan? That’s Gotanda Dan. He goes to one of the local public high schools.”

“I-I see. Is he the same age as you?”

“Yeah, he is.”

“Two years younger...”

“Eh?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Thank you.”

Utsuho gave a polite bow. Her cheeks looked a little red, but I must have been imagining it.

“All right! To commemorate a full meeting and celebrate Ichika’s appointment as Vice President, I baked a cake. Shall we have some now?”

“Oooh. Sounds greaaaat.”

“I’ll start some tea, then.”

“If you don’t mind. Honne, could you fetch the plates?”

“Suuuure.”

It seemed like whenever the three worked together, they each took the task matching their personality. The shortcake they laid out was, undeniably, delicious-looking.

“Then. Cheers!”

“Cheeeeers.”

“Cheers.”

“Aha... Hahaha... Cheers. Sigh...”

Thus began my life on the student council.

◇

“Pardon me.”

Tatenashi opened a weighty door and stepped into the principal’s office. Night had already fallen, and the windows looked out upon the darkness.

“Ah, Sarashiki. Excellent timing.” She was greeted by an older man with a kindly face. Officially, his wife was the Principal of IS Academy, but behind the scenes, this man was in charge. “Now, if I could have your report?”

The man rested his clasped hands on top of his ornate desk as he spoke. His hair was completely white, and his face was creased with wrinkles. His gentle demeanor had earned him the nickname of ‘Conscience of the Academy.’ This man who spent his days as a janitor—Kutsuwagi Juuzou—was in true control of everything which happened at IS Academy.

“First, about Orimura Ichika. His IS training is progressing satisfactorily.” Tatenashi dispensed with her usual playfulness. “To be honest, I’m impressed. It only takes him a few tries to pick up anything I teach him. He’s far quicker on the uptake than any girl I’ve worked with.”

“I see. It must be because he’s Ms. Orimura’s brother.”

Tatenashi sensed a hidden meaning behind that, but continued her report rather than probing at it, “Next, we’ve confirmed that Phantom Task is in possession of at least two IS. Of them, one has had its core extracted and is unlikely to be ready for action in the immediate future.”

If you think of the core as the heart of an IS, then the armor would be the muscle. The extraction of the core means the loss of the body which had grown around it, and a relearning period while it adjusts to its new armor. They weren’t something you can swap in and out like a battery.

“You’ve been working quite hard, Sarashiki.”

“It’s nothing. Valuable combat experience for my IS, if anything.”

“Ah, right, the Russian design. So it has come together. I was worried that it would never turn out to be worthwhile, but I see it was the right decision to give it to you.”

“The development team has contacted me several times about potential modifications, but I believe it’s usable as-is.”

“I’ll leave it to you, then. Use it as you see fit.”

After two or three more details about the school, Tatenashi finished her report, “That’s all.”

“Understood. I see you’re as popular as ever.”

“I am the student council president, after all,” Tatenashi said with a chuckle. She grinned, and Juuzou responded with a broad smile. The tension between them faded like mist.

“Now, shall we have tea? I have a snack, too. I believe you’ll be quite the fan.”

At Juuzou’s words, Tatenashi’s face lit up in the way which only a teenaged girl’s can.

“You’re always so good at choosing snacks. I can’t wait to try what you have today.”

“Ahahaha, it’s no big deal. I just choose what looks good.”

“No, really, you are! Oh, right! I had brought tea with me too!”

“Oh, is it Nohotoke Utsuho’s?”

“Indeed it is!”

“Ooh! Her tea is excellent. This will be a wonderful meal.” Juuzou chirped with an enthusiasm unexpected from a man who was pushing 70.

The two sat facing each other across the table as if they were the dearest of friends. No one who walked in the room would ever guess that they were the two powers in control of IS Academy.