ugh to make her heart start throbbing.

Her heart was throbbing violently, and her face reddened.

M-My training is not enough...

While suppressing her hot cheeks with her hands, Houki replayed the Shinonono sword style movements in her head.

Calm down, calm down. She repeated those words over and over again.

She repeats the movements she has learned in her head. She then compares those with the movements she remembers in her memories to ascertain her current mastery level.

That's right. The footwork should be faster, the rush should be deeper...

The figure of her father holding a real sword is strong and reassuring.

In his flowing movement, a certain sharpness could be felt.

As I thought, master is amazing.

Her real father, and also her sword teacher, Shinonono Ryuuin, is Houki's target.

She genuinely admires his ability.

Thinking about it, her father never got agitated, unlike Ichika.

As a man, he should have been able to profoundly set up things, shouldn't he?

Once she started thinking that, suddenly the image in her head of the person doing the training changed from her father to Ichika.

The Ichika in her imagination is sturdy, strong, clever, and keen. Furthermore, his conviction is strong, and there's no maliciousness in him at all.

No way! No way! That's wrong! He's not that splendid!

*Bun* *Bun*, she shakes her head.

Her ponytail, which wriggled while she shook her head, somehow looking like the tail of a sprinting horse.

"Shinonono-san, I can't get in unless you move away from the door."

"Uwaa!"

Called by the voice on the other side of the door, making Houki jump up and move away from the door.

"At last, I can get in."

"S-Sorry.."

"It's alright, don't sweat it."

Shizune smiles while saying that, then sits on her own bed and starts opening a paperback book.

The title of the book is "Everything You Need to Become A Soldier". Incidentally, the whole book is American taste's Comedy.

Contrary to her too-serious personality, Shizune likes this kind of books that are filled with trivial jokes that contains good meaning. The reason seems to be "my feelings become direct when reading these books."

"By the way, Shinonono-san.."

"W-What is it?"

"Another complaint. Personal IS users group is monopolizing Orimura-kun again."

"Even if you say that to me...."

"Ah, but it will start soon, won't it? The lending of Orimura-kun to the clubs?"

A few days ago, Ichika, who just entered the Student Council Executive Club, will from now on, under the guise of helping every club, be lent to do general routine tasks for them.

"Now is the time to operate ISs, even if just a little". Although there's a lot of that kind of objections, in the end, the Student Council President Sarashiki Tatenashi's "Now, now, the club with the most favorable attitude will get prioritized in borrowing Ichika" devilish murmur made everyone return to their seats at once.

Really, that person is..... Geez...

But, Houki is also a member of Kendo club. The thought of Ichika coming during club activities honestly made her very happy.

Seeing my gallant figure, Ichika will surely...

She shakes off her hand to erase the delusion that surfaces in her mind.

That's not it! That's not it all, umm.... I mean, that's....

'That's not something that people know anyway,' is the excuse she gave herself, but suddenly she starts to feel guilty.

Uuu.... I'm not like that. I'm definitely not like that. I'm not a woman who would think about superficial things like-

"Shinonono-san."

"W-What is it!?"

"Are you okay? You're making such a serious face, you know?"

"I, I'm okay. No problem at all. "

"I see."

Giving that short reply, she then returned to read her book.

For Houki, she feels that Shizune's no different than usual attitude on the contrary points out her unnatural attitude, and somehow she feels deeply embarrassed by that.

Uuu, it's Ichika fault... It's all Ichika's fault...

That was a complete burst of anger, but that day, Houki's mind kept wandering around that thought, until she finally went to sleep.

?

"That was horrible..."

Finally released from the hellish interrogation of those four, I scurried back to my room cautiously.

"Welcome home. Ah, sorry to intrude."

"Tatenashi-san.."

*Gaku!* I reflexively hung my head.

Sarashiki Tatenashi. IS Academy Student Council President. The woman who holds the title of the strongest among the student body. One class year ahead of me.

Her personality could be described as wild, or maybe whimsical. She's a very cat-like person.

Somehow, I have the feeling that she's gotten used to opening my room's door lock now. She is currently lying in the bed while reading a fashion magazine.

"......"

"What's the matter? Ah, could it be that you're peeking at my underwear?"

"W-Well excuse me! Please don't flap your feet like that when you're wearing a skirt! I might see it even though I don't mean to, you know!"

"Fuun. So, did you see it?"

"U!"

"A question for you. The color of Tatenashi onee-san's underwear is...?"

"Pink."

"Aha.?Ecchi."

Aaagh, this person is really...!

No matter what happens, it seems that she wants to tease me. Every time she visits my room it becomes like this.

"Now then, I've come today because there's something we need to talk about."

"What is it..."

"Don't be so paranoid. It's a pretty serious topic. It's about the aforementioned group."

Aforementioned group - that can only means one thing: Phantom Task.

My mood suddenly tensed up, unlike a moment ago.

"It's still informal information, but it seems that just a short while ago, the United States' IS maintenance base was raided. Their target was the IS, itself, it seems. Ichika-kun should be careful too, or else your IS might be snatched away as well."

"Okay. I won't be caught by the same trick twice."

"Very good. Boys should be like that."

"Become a good enough man whom I can fall in love with", Tatenashi added.

Again, asking for something with such high degree of difficulty...

And anyway, Tatenashi-san's standards seem to be really high.

Her family is a prestigious one too.

Now that I think about it, I can't imagine any man at all who could match Tatenashi-san.

What kind of person could suit her I wonder.

"Ara, worrying about onee-san? Don't worry. Onee-san is also just a woman, I'll put up with the stuff that needs to be tolerated, you know."

"Haaa."

"I might unexpectedly fall in love with Ichika-kun, you know?"

"Ha. ha. ha."

Again with that joke. I can only laugh dryly.

"Ah, what's with that reaction. I'm hurt..."

"...But, you know, right...?"

"People who say that kind of things...I wonder if they need to suffer through tickling hell again?"

"Pl-Please stop. That was really painful."

And also, as a man, Tatenashi-san's voluptuous chest and tender thighs that were touching me while tickling were also very dangerous. That's right, that was really dangerous, for many reasons.

"Now then, I wonder if I should satisfy Ichika-san's bodily needs?"?[6A 5]

Tatenashi-san is coming towards me while making a tickling gestures with her hands.

T-This is bad! I have to run away!

*Knock* *knock*.

"Ichika? Are you there?"

The voice which was suddenly heard along with the knocking sound was Charl's.... I, I'm saved!

"Y-Yeah! The door is unlocked so please come in!"

Saved from Tatenashi-san's tickling hell, I quietly go perform a?Guts pose?in my heart while thinking that.

"U-Um, sorry to intrude."

"Welcome."

"Huh..."

Seeing Tatenashi-san's smiling figure, Charl stiffens.

Her expression disappeared when I was looking at her face, turning into a blank stare, then somehow turning into a very scary, expressionless face.[6A 6]

"Ichika, what were you doing...?"

"Huh? What... we were just chatting."

"Fuun. Then why did you say that it was okay for me to enter?"

"Why, you say.... Huh? Charl, could it be that you're angry?"

"Why do you say that? There's nothing of the sort. I'm not angry at all, you know."

Aaah! I can see the angry blood-vessel mark & fire behind her back! Why! Why are you angry Charl!

"Then, it's time for me to go back. Charlotte-chan, please take your time."

"Okay."

Whaaat!? When the situation becomes complicated, you run away? Are you some kind of raid unit?

But, the world is cruel. The main culprit, Tatenashi-san, left the room soon after.

"Uuum...."

There's a sudden silence between me and Charl.

"First of all, please have a seat. I'll make some tea while you do."

"Un. But, there's no need to make tea."

"I-Is that so."

When I sit on my bed while at my loose end, Charl unexpectedly sits next to me instead of in front.

"U-Umm..."

"What is it?"

"No, that's, it's nothing."

Charl's voice that can be heard from next to me is very clear and piercing.

If words had attacking power, I might have become a honeycomb by now. Well, I will never know though.

Anyway, I didn't do anything wrong, but I shrink from the pressure of this silence. "To sit on a needle carpet?[6A 7]" really describe this situation well.

"....."

Aa— Uu—

"Pu."

Suddenly, Charl started to strangely burst out.

"Ahaha. Ichika, really, I'm no longer mad. That's why, please, don't be afraid like that."

"Huh? Wh-.. Wha?"

"Because, Ichika is flustered just like a man that has been found cheating by his partner. That was really funny. Fu fu."

That laugh is a genuine one, there's no scope of distrust at all. It seemed like she really is no longer angry.

"In the first place, that's... why were you mad anyway?"

"Because Ichika is getting friendly only with Tatenashi-san."

"No no, that's just impossible isn't it. That person is definitely getting along with everyone too."

"...That's not what I meant though..."

Hm? What was that I wonder? I tried to grasp what Charl muttered with a very low voice, but it can't be helped that I can't understand what she said.

"A-Anyway, about the thing I want to talk to you about."

This time Charl, who suddenly began to fidget, started to question me while looking only through the corner of her eyes and playing with her fingers.

"T-That's, you know. I got a bracelet as a present before, didn't I? That's why, t-that's, a-also to return the favor that is, I wonder if maybe I should give you some kind of accessory as a birthday present, is what I was thinking. What do you think?"

Charl is saying this while being unusually restless, but she strongly said the last part while vigorously moving her face closer to me.

"Ah, the bracelet from last summer, wasn't it. But...."

I roll up my uniform and show my right hand. My personal IS [Byaku-Shiki]'s standby form, a bracelet, is on that hand.

"I already have this."

"T-Then!"

Charl is getting closer again to me with another vigorous move.

"H-How about a watch? See? It's convenient to have one, right?"

While saying that, Charl rolls her left sleeve up and shows her gorgeously designed, cute lady's watch.

"Heee, that watch really looks nice, doesn't it?"

"I-Isn't it!? There's, there's also a model of this watch that's designed for males. Since we're going to buy it, how about a matching - "

"But, I don't really use a watch usually. Besides there is one in my cellphone anyway."

"......"

Huh, wha? Charl became sulky while continuing to look at me. Huh? Wha? Why?

"Ichika, a watch is a necessity if you want to be a stylish boy, you know."

"I-If you say that...."

Somehow, I feel like I'm compelled to follow her advice. Why is that, I wonder.

"T-That's why, let's go to the front of the station this weekend. Besides, I also want to look for some clothes."

"I-Is that so. Well, let's go then."

"R-Really!? I-It's a promise! You absolutely have to come!"

Charl then held out her pinky finger after saying that.

Since learning about Japanese custom of doing Yubikiri Genman[6A 8], Charl seems to be strangely infatuated with doing this.

Since there's no particular reason for me to refuse her, every time I indulge her request to do it.

"Yubikiri Genman, anyone breaking the promise will have to eat a cluster bomb."

And every time, the settlement phrase is always extraordinarily scary.

Charl, how do I say it... she seems to be the scariest one when angered, doesn't she.

"Yubikitta."

"Alright."

"Ehehe. I'm looking forward to this weekend."

Even though today is still Monday? It's too early.

"Iii, Chiiii, Kaaaa! Are you awake? You're awake, aren't you! This weekend, how about we - "

I was wondering who the one that suddenly opened the door loudly was, but it turns out to be just Rin.

But, seeing me and Charl sitting close to each other, her expression suddenly stiffened.

"- What are you doing?"

"Well, we're doing Yubikiri to ..."

"I-Ichika!"

Charl hurriedly covered my mouth in panic. But, my words didn't escape Rin's ears, and her eyes started to shine.

"Yubikiri? Then, that means you made a promise for something? What is it? Speak up."

"It's about going shopping on weekend - "

"J-Jeez! Stupid Ichika!"

Geh, I'm getting scolded. Charl is saying "I don't know you anymore!" while turning away from me.

Why is it? Isn't it more fun going shopping with more people?

"Hahaan? Then, I'm going too. Please take care of me, Charlotte."

"Same here...."

In contrast to the smiling Rin, Charl is pouting. The thing about Charl disliking Rin - is definitely false, isn't it?

"Then, let the three of us go out this weekend. Nfufu."

"Right. What about the meeting place?"

"10 o'clock at the monument in front of station."

Charl is saying that while still keeping her pouting face. ....... Hey hey, if you keep making faces like that, I'm gonna pinch your cheek.

"Charl."

"...What is it?"

Pinch. Pinch pinch.

"....."

"....."

"Ah...."

Rin is opening her arms while shaking her head in disbelief.

"Ichika is an idiot!"

Charl stood up right after saying that, and left the room immediately.

*Batan!* The door being closed made a large noise.

"Ichika, you really are..."

"....please don't say it."

"...you really are an idiot, aren't you."

I'm really sorry.

?

Uwa, Uwaaaa..

Charl is hiding her face while returning to her room at a fast pace.

Under her palm, her pink cheek starts to heat up.

I-Ichika, to suddenly touch me like that...... Uuu.... If only he had given me some kind of sign before doing that, then I wouldn't have left the room like that.

Truth to be told, she's still upset, and is in the process of cooling herself off from being genuinely angry before.

But, what's there is a 15-year-old in love. Being touched by the person she liked, the thump of her hopping heart is larger.

Aaaa...., Uuuu....

Charlotte started to reservedly touch her cheek where Ichika touched earlier for a while, after making sure sure no one was watching.

Her love-stricken heart's fire already lit, and in the blink of an eye, her face is dyed completely red.

Even so, if only Rin had not come, it would have been a date just for the two of us...

If only Ichika had refused her request earlier......

For such a complaint to come out is something that cannot be helped on this occasion.

Of course, she knew well enough that favoring a certain girl isn't his personality at all, but even so - even so, she can't help but to expect it.

I wonder if he'll treat only me specially.

To hold such a cute selfishness is a maiden-in-love's special right.

"Haaa."

Charlotte, who had reached her room's door, unintentionally leaked a sigh while opening it.

"Chao."

"....Charlotte, remove this person from here right away."

Uwaaa.

Charlotte firmly takes in those words.

What's in the room is the cat-and-mouse pair(or rather, more like Laura one-sided hatred) of Tatenashi-san and Laura.

Laura, if she's a cat, she is in threatened state, with her fur scattered, and her tail firmly standing[6A 9]. She has raised her eyes even more than usual.

"If you keep sighing like that, your happiness will run away, you know?"

"Huh, O-Okay, I'll be careful."

"Charlotte! Think about the way to drive her out of the room quickly!"

"Well, that's... Laura, even if you say that..."

Aaa, the dilemma of being a good-natured person.

Charlotte indeed hears the sounds of her happiness running quickly away from her.

"Please don't hate me like that, Laura-chan. Let's get along, okay?"

"Don't add 'chan' when you call me! There's no need to get along with you!"

"Ara~? If you say it like that..."

"Wh!? C-Could it be, you're going to do "that" again?"

In an instant, Laura's expression turned into a scared one.

While Charlotte was wondering what was "that" actually was, Tatenashi-san started to open her arms and move her finger in a tickling motion.

Ah, so Laura hates being tickled.

Tickling. That is Tatenashi-san's secret technique - or rather, her hobby to force other people to laugh.

"S-Stop it. You stupid! I'll retaliate seriously!"

"Nfufu. Now then~, how long will you continue that show of courage, I wonder?"

"D-Don't come any closer! I'm serious you know. I'll really stab you!"

Even though Laura drew her tactical knife, her right eye clearly shows unrest and fear.

"You can't make me retreat with just that kind of knife, you know~."

"D-Damn it.... if only I had a gun, then the likes of you wouldn't..."

"Fufufu, in a battlefield you would lose your life if you had a beef-stir-fry set menu, you know."

That was probably a word twist of "making excuses"[6A 10]?wasn't it . Charlotte absent-mindedly thought of that trivial information.

This looks like it'll be over soon. Ah, I better prepare some hot chocolate.

She just recently found out that hot chocolate most effective when calming Laura down.

If a thick chocolate drink is brought to her, Laura will sip it like a squirrel while complaining.

"It's showtime."

"U-Uwa.. Uwaaaaaaaa."

A couple seconds later, it was needless to say that Laura's anguished tickle-induced laughter is resounding inside the room.

?

"Really! Why didn't you help me back then! Were you going to leave your comrade-in-arms to die? That's unthinkable in a sane state! It's not like the squad I was assigned with at all. No matter what kind of hopeless situation we faced, they wouldn't leave a comrade to die. The reason, that itself is the means to resuscitate the whole squad, it's a technique. In the first place - "

While complaining, Laura is licking the lukewarm chocolate that Charlotte made.

"Did you hear what I said!"

After gulping her chocolate once, Laura let out an angry roar.

But, Charlotte, who is already used to that situation by now, only answered "Un" while putting a comb through Laura's hair.

"Laura, what do you think about the new shampoo?"

"H-Hm? Well, I don't dislike the fragrance."

"Is that so. I'm glad then. It's the first time I bought the Lavender one, so I was really worried that Laura might not like it."

"U, umu... But, I, it's not like I like it, you know. I just don't dislike it, that's all."

Laura, who was made to laugh for a while by Tatenashi, is talkative as usual.

Lately, when Charlotte combed her hair like this, Laura narrowed her eye like a cat in a good mood. Sometimes, it seemed like it feels good enough to fall asleep while still being combed.

"Fuaa.."

Sure enough, Laura, who started to feel the hypnotic effect, was yawning a little.

The?nekomimi?pajama[6A 11]?that she's also wearing seems to have already become a necessary item for sleeping.

"Laura, shall we retire for the night?"

"Umu..... let's do that."

After answering with a sluggish tone while nodding, Laura sipped the chocolate again.

Seeing that kind of behavior that looked especially like a kitten, Charlotte was spurred by the urge to hug her.

"Make sure you brush you teeth."

"I know...."

Laura, who was already half-way into the dreamworld, empties her glass then walks towards the bathroom.

3 minutes later, she returned and lay down on her bed, then crept into her futon.

"I'm going to turn off the light then. Good night, Laura."

"Umu..."

Before long, the sound of Laura sleeping could be heard.

Charlotte let out a sigh of relief at her sleeping roommate.

It will be fun even with the three of us, right...?

Her feelings are already directed toward the shopping trip on the weekend.

Since she already confirmed the glittering bracelet on her left wrist, Charlotte starts her secret ritual.

Good night, Ichika...

Chuu...She kissed the bracelet. Charlotte, as if she wanted to hide her red face, pulled the futon over the top of her head and went to sleep.