Chapter 36

(Ichika's POV)

Charles and I went back to the ground after our sparring. I had to admit that the Rafale Revives had a lot of potential, after all they were a third generation prototype, with the right components I was sure I could turn it into a true third generation.

(Charles): "It was very fast..." - she said while she made her IS's wings disappear.

(Ichika): "But you were very good, Charles, even though Ouri was not at full speed, you managed to react in time."

(Charles): "Can your IS go faster?"

(Ichika): "Yes, although I screwed up with more than a quarter of the school's IS inventory to achieve this."

(Charles): "I didn't know that your IS had attacks from a distance."

(Ichika): "Yes, but it consumes the energy of the shield to perform various functions that it achieved with the 3rd Shift."

(Charles): "It looks like the skill that the IS of Orimura-Sensei used."

(Ichika): "It is. But with the 3rd Shift, it stopped being a One Off Ability and became a part of the equipment."

(Charles): "You did a job to be envious. But you are bad at targeting, aren't you?"

(Ichika): "I admit it is one of my weaknesses..." - I said a little embarrassed.

In fact, controlling Ouri's wings to aim was a little difficult, but I was never very good with firearms and aiming. Rabbit-san tried to teach me but she easily lost patience when it came to this, and she wouldn't let me approach firearms or train.

(Charles): "Do you want me to help you?"

(Ichika): "I want to."

The girls were just staring at us while I talked to Charles, I just hoped it wasn't the case with 'The Dragon and his Host'. We activate an arena target system.

(Charles): "Shall we practice?" - he said handing me her assault riffle.

(Ichika): "Have you already registered me?"

The ISs' equipment had a protection system that prevented other ISs from using it, for example, nobody else would be able to use Yukihira except me, but if they disabled this system, anyone that the owner registered could use the said equipment.

(Charles): "Yes."

I took the assault riffle and aimed at the targets.

(Ichika): "Am I doing it right?"

I haven't touched a firearm in a long time. Chales went after me to check.

(Charles): "Well... bring your arms a little closer. Also, your right shoulder is here. Do you understand?" - she said while adjusting my posture.

After she fixed my posture, I started shooting, she continued to hold my arms like a stabilizer. I didn't hit the center of any of the targets, but I got close, and I saw that she was a better teacher than Rabbit-san, if I was in the wrong posture, Rabbit-san would already start yelling at me.

(Charles): "What did you think?"

(Ichika): "It was much better than before... but I feel that Byakushiki doesn't get along with this."

(Charles): "Possibly weapon compatibility. Byakushiki should have more affinity with swords, but that doesn't stop you from using weapons."

(Ichika): "But I'm sure my performance will drop... but most of Byakushiki's functions consume a lot of energy."

(Charles): "There is not much to do."

At that time I saw in another part of the arena a black IS with a cannon on the right side being piloted by none other than Laura Bodewig herself. At that same time the students who went to the arena began to comment.

(Student 1): "It can't be! Isn't that a third generation German model?"

(Student 2): "I thought you were in the testing phase."

And that model was the last time I checked the news. It seems that they decided to make Bodewig as a laboratory mouse, although Cecilia was also in development with a third generation model from England. But unlike Germany, England had already improved this, after all Madoka had a more improved version of Blue Tears, the Silent Zephyrs, which she took when she was with [Phanto Task], I still had to work on that IS not to go after her.

She looked at me with the same expression as before.

(Laura): "So you have an exclusive IS."

(Ichika): "Yes, so what?"

(Laura): 'Let's speed things up. Fight with me now. "

(Ichika): "Do you have so much prey to catch?"

She just looked at me with an even more furious expression.

(Ichika): "I refuse. If you want to try and disobey Orimura-Sensei feel free to come, but if not, go away."

When I commented on Chifuyu-nee, her expression became a little calmer.

(Laura): "So be it."

She deactivated her IS and went the same way she came.

(Charles): "Why does she hate you so much?"

(Ichika): "Possibly she loves my sister a lot and wanted to be in my place."

But it made me curious. What situation did my sister get her to be like this? I wasn't going to get the answers right now, and I doubt Chifuyu-nee would tell me, I'm going to have to ask Mice to look for it. We continue training until sunset.

When I was changing, Charles was about to leave.

(Ichika): "Hey Charles, why don't you bathe here?"

(Charles): "I prefer to take it in the bedroom."

(Ichika): "I know."

I went to her side and put her arm around their shoulders.

(Ichika): "You don't have to be that shy."

She turned red and just ran. I hope I haven't put too much pressure on her.

I bathed myself and headed towards the dorms. On the way, I ended up hearing Bodewig's voice.

(Laura): "Please answer me, instructor."

I looked in the direction her voice was coming, and I saw her and my sister in front of an artificial pond at the Academy, I hid behind the nearest tree, I knew I shouldn't, but I hoped at least to understand Bodewig a little , although he was still mad at her for that comment in the room.

(Laura): "Why are you in a place like this?"

(Chifuyu): "Don't make me repeat myself. I have obligations to fulfill. That is the only reason."

This made me wonder if these obligations were related to the only underground facility that Iris was unable to identify.

(Laura): "What obligations could you have in this remote place? I beg you, instructor! Teach me again in Germany! This place cannot use even half your skills."

(Chifuyu): "Ho~"

(Laura): "Besides, the students at that school are not worthy of their teachings! They have no sense of the danger and think that IS are just fashion accessories or something. Just imagine that you are wasting your time with people like that ... "

(Chifuyu): "Stop it immediately, little girl."

(Laura): "Huh?"

(Chifuyu): "You have become a little arrogant since the last time I saw you. Do you think you are extremely important even though you are only fifteen years old?"

(Laura): "I-I..."

(Chifuyu): "Return to the dorm, I'm busy."

She was offended and ran away, when she was away my sister spoke again.

(Chifuyu): "You didn't hide very well." - She said turning to me.

(Ichika): "I just needed Bodewig not to notice me."

(Chifuyu): "How much did you hear?"

(Ichika): "Since she demanded an answer and you said you had obligations."

(Chifuyu): "And you're curious about what obligations you are, aren't you?"

(Ichika): "Yes, but I won't go out asking. You know where to find me if you want to speak."

She just gave a little smile and a grateful look, it seems that it was information that could not be passed on.

(Ichika): "What about our side project?"

(Chifuyu): "I managed to convince the teachers in their classrooms to help me. We can take care of them before their fight with Bodewig."

(Ichika): "Are we going to have a problem after that?"

(Chifuyu): "No, everything is ready to the point that neither [Phantom Task] nor the Americas will be able to say anything... I thought you would ask me about Bodewig."

(Ichika): "And I am actually curious, but I will not ask a story that is not yours."

(Chifuyu): "Well... I'm going, I have some things to do."

(Ichika): "See you tomorrow."

I went straight to the dorms, Charles was already changed. We did our homework and ended the day.

(Chifuyu's POV)

I was going back to the teachers' room, after all I had to make sure everything was in order for what I planned to do. I was a little doubtful if I should have Ichika by my side when we went to capture the spies at the Academy. After all, I planned to have Madoka by my side at the time, if Ichika was also by my side, they could associate him with [Zodiac Beasts], but if only I showed up, they would think that only I have contact with [Zodiac Beasts] Beasts], although I was going to involve Madoka in that.

I shook my head, I was going to ask Ichika if he wanted to risk his identity, although I wouldn't be surprised if anyone ever doubted him. Just thinking about Ichika, my mind went to that comment from him, that only my opinion mattered when it came to belonging to the family, and that made my heart race.

I remember the other teachers commenting on these reactions, which was of a woman in love, but I scolded myself at the time. He was my brother, how could I think of him any other way than that? But my heart was going in another direction. I just hoped it wouldn't get out of hand.

I arrived at the teachers' room and only Maya was there. I had told them to link everything, except the part of Ichika belonging to [Zodiac Beasts] and [Mosaic Project].

(Maya): "Has the government been pressing you about that?"

(Chifuyu): "No, to my relief."

After the [Mosaic Project], the Japanese government thought of [Project Adam], which had the same objective as the first so that this time, instead of modification it was through procreation, as I am a woman, it would be kind of inefficient to put me in this project, but Ichika was another story, since he could get several women pregnant at once.

When I calmed my head the same day that Ichika defeated Alcott, I thought the Japanese government was going to try something with him, but so far they are quiet. Possibly the [Zodiac Beasts] or even Ichika himself scared them... or eliminated the heads of the project, whatever the answer, I was happy.

(Chifuyu): "Anyway, there's nothing missing for the capture, is there?"

(Maya): "No. I checked that none of the spies had any contact with the teachers, so it probably won't be a problem."

I hoped this would continue, as I really wanted to hit [Phanto Task], even if it was just this one.