66: Confusion

A deep silence invaded the three youths, who simply looked at each other.

"Let's better change the subject, this is a bit depressing" - said Ichika as he let out a sigh - "If you want I'll tell you what happened when you guys left."

Houki raised an eyebrow because this was the first time his old friend talked about his past.

"Ok, start" - Cloud said calmly.

"The truth is that when you guys disappeared from the city, I was a bit heartbroken, and that's when I met a girl" - replied Ichika as he explained his first encounter with his other childhood friend.

Cloud raised an eyebrow as he nodded, this seemed like it was a lot easier than he thought, though his expression changed to one of neutrality when he heard about the promise he had made to the girl when they parted ways because she had to go back to China.

"Okay, let me get this straight" - Cloud said as he pinched the bridge of his nose - "You promised her that you would eat her pork every day if she improved to the level of her parents..."

"Exactly, Rin's parents cooked the best pork I've ever tasted in my life, and she said that she would be much better than them" - Ichika replied while scratching his cheek - "That's why I felt it was a good deal when she proposed to cook for me every day after we met again."

"Ichika..." - Houki muttered with a frown because this was ridiculous, though her friend's confused expression showed that he wasn't joking - "You're such an idiot..."

"Huh? Why are you insulting me, Houki?" - Ichika asked with a frown - "That's not the way to talk to your old childhood friend."

"That's why I'm insulting you, you idiot!" - Houki exclaimed as he gave her a blank stare - "You seriously don't understand?"

"Understand what?" - Ichika asked, confused with the way his old friend was reacting.

"Please think about it for a bit" - said Cloud while shaking his head because it seemed that his friend was more stupid than he thought, although this shouldn't be a surprise, not when people said that his level of density was off the charts - "A girl proposing you that she's going to improve her cooking qualities, so she can prepare your food every day..."

"Sounds like a good friend" - Ichika replied simply.

"You idiot, she's training to be your wife!" - Houki exclaimed as he grabbed his best friend's head, and to the surprise of those present, slammed it on the table - "She's getting better at making you happy when she comes back!"

"Ouch, that hurt, Houki!" - Ichika exclaimed, though his expression changed as he analyzed his childhood friend's words - "You're joking..."

"No, what she says is true" - Cloud replied as he shook his head - "It's obvious that she's interested in you, and you, well, you're an idiot"

Ichika was silent as he let out a sigh now that he felt the hard hit of reality, a hard hit right in the forehead - "Was the hit necessary?"

"That's the only way we can make you react, diamond head" - Houki snorted as she folded her arms - "What are you going to do?"

"I... I don't know" - replied Ichika with a frown - "Honestly, I didn't know that's what she wanted, I just thought she liked to cook."

"That doesn't matter, that girl is striving to be a better woman to be by your side" - Cloud said as he folded his arms - "That shows how much she loves you."

Ichika blushed before he felt his thoughts start to become erratic - "Ugh..."

"Look, you possibly don't feel the same way she does, but I at least want you to think about what you want to do with this girl when you see her again" - Cloud said as he folded his arms.

"I understand..." - Ichika muttered as he let out a long sigh.

* * * * *

A new day had arrived, and right now Maya was leading the students to the training room.

The reason for this?

Simple, Chifuyu had allowed the duel between Cloud and Cecilia, after the girl appeared in the teacher's room to make this request to her.

"How do you think this will end?" - asked a girl worriedly.

Houki simply kept silent, though she was also worried about the state of her childhood friend and romantic interest.

"Houki..." - Ichika said as he walked to the brown-haired girl - "What do you think will happen?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure" - replied Houki while letting out a sigh - "Cloud said that he trained to fight against [IS] users, but..."

"I guess we just have to trust" - Ichika muttered while closing her eyes.

The other girls in the class were also discussing among themselves, simply waiting for the battle to begin.

Chifuyu had asked them to analyze the battle and to give her a report next Monday with everything they had discovered.

"Remember that you have to be in the stands because now we are going to activate the barrier" - said Chifuyu seriously.

"Where is Yamada sensei?" - asked a girl as she looked around.

"She is making sure that the two fighters are okay" - replied Chifuyu calmly as she folded her arms - "Now go to your seats, because now I have to go to the central room, so I can check the arena equipment"

The girls looked at each other before simply nodding.

* * * * *

"Are you okay?" - Maya asked as she looked carefully at Cloud, who was simply checking his suit.

"Yes, I'm in perfect condition, in fact, I also want to check the power of a representative candidate" - Cloud answered calmly while thinking carefully - "Tell me, Maya-chan... Are you worried about me?"

"I-I'm just worried about my student" - replied Maya with a red face, only to avert her gaze as she averted her eyes to hide her embarrassment - "W-Whatever, I have to go see Alcott-san."

"Ok" - nodded Cloud as he went back to concentrating on his suit.

"G-Good luck..." - Maya muttered as she retreated from the blonde-haired young man's dressing room.

Cloud gave her a smile before noticing how his visor appeared over his right eye.

"Raiden, I want you to start combat protocol" - Cloud said calmly as he felt the suit adjust to his muscles.

[Initiating combat protocol...]

[Please assign mode...].

"Combat against [IS] user." - Cloud replied simply.

[Initiating alpha protocol...]

A small smile appeared over his lips as he felt how his muscles seemed to be filled with power.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Biomechanical Combat Armor: Raiden (R)]

[Info: Armor built with technology from the world of [IS: Infinite Stratos], and only functions in this world. This armor is a miracle of technology, created thanks to the user's mana used as energy for its performance]

Effect 1 [Mana Well]: +50% damage to energy shields thanks to the penetrative effects of mana.

Effect 2 [Raiden]: +50% damage against mechanical enemies, and general speed increase.

Effect 3 [Accelerate]: Doubles attack and movement speed, but increases energy consumption by 200%.

Effect 4 [Modification: Bunny]: Allows the user to fly thanks to the boosters on the back, but increases energy consumption by 200%. This skill can be used together with [Accelerate].

[Additional Info: [Modification: Bunny], was an upgrade designed by the inventor Shinonono Tabane].

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

"[Raiden], I want you to give me a report of my biometric data" - Cloud said while shaking his head.

[Initiating analysis...]

[Initiating...]

[Analysis completed, report delivered...]

Cloud simply remained silent as he watched the report appearing on his right eye's visor.

[Raiden has detected a massive spike in the user's testosterone levels, currently the user is in an extremely high state of excitement...]

"I knew it" - sighed Cloud as he shook his head - "Give me a possible solution."

[Initiating... information gathered, delivering information...]

[Raiden recommends that the user increase his physical training level, a change in diet, or... meditation]

"Meditation?" - Cloud repeated with a frown.

[Mental training may help control the user's hormones, although there is insufficient information to be sure of the outcome of the latter method]

"Understandable" - Cloud mused as he thought carefully, until he heard the sound of Chifuyu's voice indicating to him that it was time for battle.

"Tell me, [Raiden], what is the probability of victory if I keep a steady pace and make the battle drag on" - Cloud said seriously as he continued reading the report from his suit's [AI].

[Insufficient data, I have no information on Cecilia Alcott in my database, however, seeing the user's current state, and the testosterone surge, it is recommended that you end the fight as soon as possible to prevent your hormones from getting out of control]

Cloud frowned slightly before letting out a sigh - "I see, makes sense... I guess I'm going to have to do it the 'simple' way... and here I wanted to hurt his pride some more..."

Raiden didn't respond to his owner's words, mostly because he hadn't asked any questions.

"Anyway, I guess it's time to start, although seeing as I can't fight the way I want to, I guess I'll hurt her pride some other way" - Cloud said calmly - "Initiate the Gama-4 protocol"