edly moves off to the cafeteria.

Ah, really. Wait for me!

◇

"Hey, did you hear that?"

"I did I did!"

"Huh, what are you talking about?"

"About Orimura-kun."

"Good things? Bad things?"

"The best news!"

"I want to listen!"

"Okay okay, calm down? You can't tell the other girls. Actually during the IS tournament this month--"

As usual, the cafeteria's crammed full of pubescent girls. And Rin and I notice the group of people gathered in a circle at a corner.

"Hm? What's going on over there? There's a lot of people over there."

"Maybe they're playing poker? Or maybe some divination."

But even so, today's a lot more rowdy than usual, and there are even squeals. What's going on?

"WHAAAAT!? IS, IS THAT TRUE!?"

"IT'S TRUE!"

"LIAR--! KYA--WHAT DO WE DO!?"

Did something good happen? I can hear squeals and screams all over the place. Hm, but it's good to be happy. If humans can keep their smiles often, it seems like they won't age too fast. Anyway, we'll be struggling a lot in society, so it's better to smile when we can now. At least that's how I often feel.

"Ichika."

"Hm."

On a side note, my dinner's herbal fried chicken, fried mountain greens, omelet and a red spinach miso soup. The taste of the dried fish cake is great.

Rin's food is mostly the same as mine, but she chose clam miso soup. She continues to drink the soup as she says to me,

"You're thinking stuff that old blockheads would think of."

How rude.

"No, that's definitely right. Whenever Ichika thinks of that, your eyes will narrow. What's that about. Are you in deep thought?"

"Shu-shut up..."

Why is she staring at me? That's enough.

"Don't point at others with chopsticks. People will think that you've been raised improperly."

"Doesn't matter. It's nothing too great anyway."

"That's not the problem. You have to learn how to change your habits. Speaking of which, it's because of that that you got scolded by Chifuyu-nee."

"Shu-shut up..."

As expected, it seems like Rin's still scared of Chifuyu-nee, as she really looks somewhat in pain.

"--Ichika, you."

"Hn?"

"...Oh well, never mind."

What is it? Rin swallowed those words that she was about to say out, and seems like she wants to sink it deep inside as she gulps down large mouthfuls of rice.

"..."

"..."

Now that the conversation got interrupted, Rin and I silently continue to eat.

Unbelievably, the moment we stopped talking, no matter how much we chewed, we managed to finish our dinner.

"I'll get tea. Is?Bancha?okay for you?"

"O-okay. Thanks."

Though she's just helping me, I'm rather happy that Rin's concerned about me. However, Rin's looking unhappy for some reason, causing me to stutter in my response.

(Un, did something make her unhappy? No wait, got to find some way to calm the atmosphere down.)

Is there something we can talk about? I start to search through the forest in my brain--oh, let's talk about Gotanda. Rin probably wants to listen about the middle school friend who she hasn't met in a long while.

"Ah--! It's Orimura-kun!"

"What, really? Where?"

"Let me ask you, is that rumor tru--suu"

In the corner at the room, a girl suddenly rushed up at me after noticing me--hm? What's that rumor about? A girl did say that, but she got shut up by the other girls...

"It, it's nothing, nothing at all! Really, there's nothing at all! Ahhahahaha..."

"--Idiot, didn't I tell you that's a secret?"

"But he's the main guy involved..."

Someone's blocking me while the others are muttering behind her."What rumor?"

"Hn, oh? What's that?"

"I-I say, we can talk about rumors 365 days, right!?"

No, that's not right. That's too long. It's already a year.

"Wha, what are you saying, Miyo!? It's only 49 days!"

No, that's wrong as well. Speaking of which--

"What are you hiding?"

"We're."

"Not."

"Hiding anything!"

They immediately retreated after launching a combination attack, and the process took only 2 seconds. Even I can't tell what's going on, and can only stare blankly as they vanish.

"What did you do now?"

Rin came back. She's holding onto two cups of hot tea that are letting out steam, making it look good.

"Why are you treating me like a problematic person!?"

"Don't you find that you're one?"

...

"Ahh, the tea tastes good."

"You're just trying to escape."

You're so rude! On what basis do you say that!?

"Fuu...a good tea after a meal sure is soothing to me, soothing."

"...Ah, never mind, it's nothing."

After chilling out for a while after dinner, I prepared to talk about Gotanda. Rin must have missed him--or rather, I should have called him along.

"Speaking of which--"

I start to talk about what happened today, and Rin was attentive to what I said until we started talking about Ran. She started to show a dark expression.

"...So, she's going to study in IS Academy?"

"I guess."

"Oh..."

For some reason, Rin and Ran don't really get along with each other. Is it because their names are similar? Assuming that there's someone with the name Ishika appearing in front of me, I'm not confident enough to believe that I can be good friends with him.

"So when she enrolls here, I have to take care of her."

"Oh...HOLD THAT, WHY!?"

Rin slammed onto the table and stood up. Why, why's she angry?

"STOP GOING ABOUT MAKING PROMISES WITH GIRLS SO EASILY!? YOU DEFINITELY CAN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY LIKE THAT, ARE YOU AN IDIOT? I SHOULD SAY YOU'RE AN IDIOT! AN IDIOT!"

Woah, she's really angry! Speaking of which, I got scolded by her last month because of another promise.

"No, that, well? Sorry, Rin."

"Instead of apologizing, why don't you just stop making promises so--"

"Ah."

"Ah."

"What are you 'ah-ing' about--ah!"

What's with this scenario? Three people just went 'ah' for no reason...let me add on. I called out first, then Houki, and finally Rin.

"..."

That's right, Houki. Houki's here. Seems like she's here to have dinner. Looking at the time, it seems like she was trying to avoid me...but it seems that I stayed around for too long. Houki looks rather awkward as she looks away from me.

"Erm, hi, Houki."

"We-well, if it isn't Ichika."

"..."

"..."

Damn it, can't continue on.

--Ever since that declaration last month that seemed like there's some emotions, during the time when she moved out, it seemed to be like this between us ever since then. At first, I would try to look for her and find something to say, but she would often answer 'oh' or 'is that so' and things like that, which makes me really tired.

"What is it? Something happened between you two?"

""No! Nothing!!""

--Damn it, I wanted to deny it and made an immediate response, but we unexpectedly replied in unison.

...In this situation, even I can only think 'it's over, we're dead'. Hold on, will others think about anything else? Hm, maybe I'm really sick.

"Are you deliberately giving me this 'we definitely did something' reaction?"

"How is that possible..."

With Rin glaring at me, I inadvertently try to give an answer that sounds like an excuse. However, it seems like I made Houki unhappy somehow, as she looks away and walks off.

"Ah--..."

Though it's weird to mention it, the way she sways the ponytail makes me unable to explain it[2A 8]?Well, I don't really understand what I just said.

"I'm going back to my room then."

"Hm? Oh, thanks for eating together with me."

"...Really, you should at least come invite me once in a while..."

"What?"

"Nothing. Bye bye."

Rin shakes her twin ponytails and walks off in the opposite direction. Let me put on something that can sway, maybe a jacket or something.

(Uu--oh well. Never mind, let's just slowly think through this.)

Walking off to my own room at this point, I never expected what would happen tomorrow.

◇

"As expected, Hazuki Company's still the best."

"Eh? Really? But doesn't Hazuki only focus on design?"

"That's why it's good."

"In terms of functions, I find Myurei's to be really good, especially the smooth and slick style."

"Ah--that, it's good, but expensive."

On Monday morning, all the girls in the class are chatting away happily. Everyone's holding onto a catalog and comparing the products on them.

"Speaking of which, where's Orimura-kun's IS outfit produced? I've never seen that model before."

"Ah, it's said to be custom-made. As there's no male attire, it seems like they got a certain research lab...let me see, I heard that it was some English company's armed-style."

I can really remember quite a bit. This should be the result of studying hard recently. Not bad, not bad.

On the side note, the IS outfit as what its name stands for. It refers to the unique tight-fitting clothing when an IS is deployed. Even without it, I can still activate my IS, but the response seems to be slower. Eh, what's the reason...

"The IS suit will detect the weak electricity on the skin and pass the signals of the user's movements to all the parts of the body before the IS can take action. Also, this suit is really durable, it can completely withstand a mini-caliber gunshot. Ah, but the impact won't vanish. Please remember it."

Yamada-sensei appeared with a clear explanation.

"Yama-chan's really so knowledgeable!"

"I'm a teacher after all...hold it, Ya-Yama-chan?"

"I really have to look at Yamapi differently!"

"Today's the day when everyone has to request for their attire, so I came earlier, hehe...no wait, Ya, Yamapi?"

It's been only 2 weeks, and Yamada-sensei already has about 8 nicknames. I guess that's proof of her popularity, and the result of her personality.

"Everyone, it's not really nice to call a?sensei?like that..."

"Eh, it's alright, it's alright."

"Maa-yan's really a serious person!"

"Maa, Maa-yan? That's..."

"Really? Do you prefer to be called Mayamaya? Mayamaya?"

"That, that's a little..."

"Well, how about we call you Yamaya?"

"Pl-please don't call me that!!"

Yamada-sensei finally says that with emphasis, showing her refusal. What is it? Does she have some bad memories about the Yamaya nickname?"

"An-anyway, everyone must call me 'sensei', got it? Got it?"

Though everyone replied with a 'yes~', that's just a random perfunctory. As for Yamada-sensei's nickname, I suppose there will be a lot more of them in the future.

"Good morning, everyone."

"Good, good morning sensei!"

The classroom that was noisy just now immediately became a neat and orderly squad (of course, that's impossible, this is just an expression), as the homeroom teacher of class 1, Orimura Chifuyu-sensei appears.

--Orimura Chifuyu, my older sister, who was the IS representative of Japan, and is now a teacher in IS Academy. Her treatment toward herself is the same as others, she stands like a soldier and sits like a samurai, and the way she walks is just like an armored tank--would I be killed if I were say that out loud? I would definitely be killed. Inspection's over.

(Ah, she changed into the clothes I prepared for her.)

When I returned home yesterday, I remembered to bring the summer clothes over, and she seemed to have worn it immediately. The attire's black, and it doesn't look that much different from a mini-skirt, but as the material's really light, it feels rather comfortable. Speaking of which, the individual division tournament will be held at the end of this month, and once it's over, it seems like the students can wear summer uniforms.

"From today onwards, we'll be having practical training. As there are training suits, we'll be using ISs, so everyone must pay attention! Don't forget to put on the school regulated attire before you get your own IS suits. Anyone who forgets will have to wear the school swimsuit and truit! And as for that person, well, he can wear a?bikini?for all I care."

No, there's definitely something wrong with that! Most of the girls other than me must be thinking that way--besides, I'm the only guy, so it would be bad if I wore a bikini, just a bikini.

On a side note, for some reason, the IS designated swimsuits are actually traditional gym outfits, those deep blue kind. People have been saying that it's facing extinction, but unexpectedly, it managed to survive here. If Gotanda knew of it, he would most likely be elated, but as for me, it's nothing.

(Speaking of which, the gym outfit here for guys are pants.)

Gotanda...I'll omit the rest, please read the front part. Anyway, I'm wearing shorts.

Let me add on. The regulated IS suit has a rather simple design, tight-fitting sleeveless vest and matching shorts. But you may wonder why is it that the school has to specially provide one for everyone when they have their own regulated ones. That's because 100 people can have 100 types of IS. Of course, not everyone can have their own personal suits, so it's really hard to tell how usable their suits are. But at least this is a respect to the girls who love to follow the melancholic girls' hearts? I heard someone tell me that girls are creatures who emphasize on fashion. Let me see, I think Cecilia said that.

On a side note, once one has the right to have a personal IS, the suit will be deployed at the same time as the IS, removing the time needed to change clothes, so it's really easy. And its noticeable that the worn clothes will be scattered into elementary particles and then kept in the database of the IS, or something like that. To be honest, I don't really remember the explanation regarding this, so it's better not to ask too much.

Anyway, it's just 'POW, flash, and transform', extremely easy to understand.

However, this direct mode that also includes the IS really drains a lot of energy, thus, it's better to deploy an IS normally and put on an IS suit unless it's a critical situation.

"Then, Yamada-sensei, please begin the homeroom."

"O-okay."

After the briefing, Chifuyu-nee hands it over to Yamada-sensei, but Yamada-sensei seems to be rubbing her eyes as she frantically puts her glasses back, looking like a panicking puppy.

"Well, today, I'll be introducing some transfer students, and there are two of them."

"Wha..."

"""WHAAAAAT....!?""""

On hearing the introduction of transfer students, everyone in the class exploded. Can't be helped, to the class that feeds on gossip even during their meals, it's to be expected that they would be shocked now that a transfer student slipped past their information network, and there are two of them.

(But why our class...? Wouldn't they be separated into different classes?)

While I was thinking about this really seriously, the door opens.

"Excuse me."

"..."

The moment the class saw the two transfer students, the buzzing quietened down.

That's to be expected.

That's because one of them--is a guy.