72: Battle (1)

[Participants, please enter the battlefield, and this time without music...]

"Ok, that wasn't necessary" - Cloud said as he rolled his eyes noticing how all the girls were looking at him.

"In Chifuyu-san's defense, your actions caused a huge stir in the academy, to the point that other girls also entered the arena during their fights with music, making the training look like a wrestling show" - replied Houki while giving a blank stare to the young blonde - "By the way, I still can't find the name of the group that sang your entrance song."

"Oh, that's because that's an [original] song" - Cloud replied honestly - "I [composed] it while I was locked up in the lab."

"Oh, that explains a few things, though I'm surprised you're so talented" - said Houki as she watched two [IS] enter the arena, one white and one blue.

Ichika and Cecilia were looking between them, silently with a serious expression on their faces.

"I'm ready whenever you want" - Cecilia said while narrowing her eyes, only to feel how a small smile appeared on her face - "I hope this will be a good battle"

"I say the same" - Ichika replied as he took a long breath - "I'm ready whenever you are, Chifuyu Nee."

[It's Orimura... you know what, forget it...]

[The battle will start in 3...]

[2...]

[1...]

The two pilots quickly stepped back as they summoned their weapons, Ichika a long katana and Cecilia her trusty sniper rifle.

"I'll grant you the first move, Orimura-san" - Cecilia said neutrally - "Let's see how much you've improved through your training with Cloud-san."

* * * * *

"Let's see how far you can go against a national representative candidate, Orimura-kun..." - Tatenashi said as she watched the battle from a large screen in the Student Council office.

"What do you think the outcome of the battle will be, president?" - asked the secretary as she sat to the side curiously watching the confrontation between the two custom [IS] owners.

"Honestly, I feel that the situation is not too good for that guy" - said the vice president - "The difference in training between the two is too extensive, Alcott-san has trained for years, while Orimura-kun has only started less than a month ago..."

"I agree with the vice president, this fight itself is ridiculous" - snorted the treasurer as she folded her arms - "It's like we're putting an experienced athlete against a rookie."

"Even with talent, it's impossible to close the gap with just a few days" - added the vice president as the others nodded.

"I have a feeling things will be very different from what you think" - said Tatenashi as she watched curiously as Ichika charged at Cecilia, who quickly dodged with ease as she controlled her drones she had pulled out of her [IS] to create a protective barrier - "Interesting, this is my first time seeing [Blue Tears]'s drones being used as a defense system, I guess Alcott-san is playing it safe."

"Aren't you being too impartial, president?" - asked the secretary as she frowned. She knew Tatenashi was interested in the boys, but that didn't mean she should be this impartial with her opinion.

"It's not that" - Tatenashi shook her head when she heard her subordinate's words - "My interest in Orimura-kun is not as great as you think, at least not after discovering Cloud-kun's potential, however, I can feel something strange about him, you can call it a hunch, but in Orimura-kun, I feel the same danger that I felt the first time I met Chifuyu Orimura..."

"Are you saying that Orimura-kun has the same level of danger as Orimura sensei?" - asked the vice president with a frown - "That doesn't make sense..."

"I know, but I'm not talking about them both being equally dangerous, what I'm trying to say, is that Ichika Orimura has the potential to be equal, or even better than her older sister" - replied Tatenashi while narrowing her eyes - "Anyway, I think we better stop talking and watch the battle, something tells me that things will be fun."

"If you say so..." - the girls of the student council, simply looked at their leader with different expressions as they refocused their gazes on the screen.

* * * * *

"What do you think, Orimura sensei?" - Maya asked as she looked at her friend and colleague.

"Ichika is making too many unnecessary moves" - replied Chifuyu as she watched the battle continue through the control room monitor - "Not to mention that he's letting Alcott hit too many shots."

"A common mistake for a rookie" - added Maya while shaking her head as she watched Ichika's shield level drastically reduce with each passing second - "If he keeps this up, this battle won't last long, albeit we have to admit that he's doing better than we thought."

"The training with Cloud was extremely effective, after all, his movements are more fluid compared to when he received his [IS] from Tabane" - mused Chifuyu as her expression remained impassive - "His overall speed also increased, I guess that kid is better than we thought if he was able to teach that idiot more than one trick"

"I guess we can say that this is the result of a good teacher and a lot of effort" - Maya said with a happy smile, after all, what woman wouldn't enjoy knowing that the boy who had gained her interest was getting better than she first thought.

"And a lot of threats" - Chifuyu added as a small smile appeared on her face, after all, she had seen how Cloud 'motivated' his younger brother.

"Threats?" - Maya repeated with surprise.

"And a very funny one" - answered Chifuyu with an amused expression on her face - "He told Ichika that if he didn't train properly, he'd tie him up naked and throw him into the girls' bathroom..."

"As funny as that sounds, I don't think that's a good idea" - Maya said while tilting her head - "This could cause us a lot of legal trouble"

"I know, but Cloud obviously wouldn't do it" - replied Chifuyu as she shook her head - "Or at least that's what I want to believe..."

Maya decided to keep silent as her lips trembled slightly, after all, imagining that situation was amusing.

Chifuyu quickly returned to normal, though her expression changed to a frown as she watched Ichika begin to let out moans of pain from the constant damage he had been taking - "I guess he'll have to train a lot more now that we've identified his shortcomings, however, I have to admit that he has improved drastically..."

* * * * *

"Not bad, Orimura-san, however, your lack of experience as an [IS] pilot is showing" - Cecilia said as she saw how the black-haired young man was in a more than perfect distance for her fighting style - "I can see that you're talented, especially because you're shortening the distance between us every time, but that's not enough, no, if you really want to beat me, you have to improve at least 50% more..."

Ichika didn't answer, after all, he was tired and had to save as much energy as possible, especially since his shield was at less than 60% capacity, while Cecilia had only lost a measly 10%.

"Are you ready to end this?" - Cecilia asked firmly.

Ichika maintained his silence as he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, only to feel his mind go blank, as if he couldn't think of anything.

Cecilia felt a shiver run down her back as she felt the sudden change in the black-haired young man's attitude, as if he was being surrounded by an ominous aura.

"Well, it doesn't matter, as long as I have my little ones to protect me and attack, you won't be able to attack me" - Cecilia said firmly.

"Then... I just have to take care of them!" - Ichika exclaimed as he opened his eyes with a sharp look on his face - "Let's go, [Byakushiki]!"

Ichika decided that he would not back down, he simply flew at full speed against Cecilia as she commanded the drones to create a barrier, though her expression changed drastically when she saw how Ichika's sword not only landed a hit against her drones, but also destroyed them with utmost ease - "Impossible! How did you do that!"

"What are you talking about? I just attacked" - Ichika replied with a frown.

"Impossible, your attack ignored my drones' shield!" - Cecilia exclaimed fiercely, though she quickly returned to normal. With her drones gone, her defensive power had dropped drastically, which meant she had to keep a calm mind, or she might lose the battle.

"Shield..." - Ichika repeated as he looked down at his katana.

* * * * *

"That skill... is the same skill that your [Yukihira] sword had, Orimura sensei" - said Maya with a frown - "If I remember correctly, it's a skill that reduces the user's shield to make attacks that directly damage the enemy [IS], in other words, it's a skill that ignores shields..."

Chifuyu didn't reply, she simply narrowed her eyes as she watched in surprise how her younger brother had not only unlocked the unique ability of her former sword, but also did so without the need to activate his [Second Shift].