Ichika once again felt stupid, how long he has gone out this time?
He still felt the burning sensation in his skin, however it had lessened greatly. He also found himself in an unfamiliar room.
The unnatural scent of sterile floor kind of familiar to him however. He had gone to this kind of place several times, mostly visiting his friend, if anything. Never once he had a major sickness or injury that requires hospital treatment.
Before he got a good view, he rubbed his bodies awkwardly due to the pain, he’s using hospital gown, and he could feel the sensation of bandages underneath.
“You’re awake, thank god” it wasn’t a question, but a statement of relief. A girls voice, a voice he’s unfamiliar with. Well, it sounded like a young boy too, but the accent is quite different.
Sitting aside his bed is a girl roughly his age, her black hair had bluish tint as they reflect the odd sunlight going past the window. Her sharp, red eyes stared into him.
He blinked, she did it too.
“Where I am?”
“Odaiba General Hospital” she smirked brightly “You collapsed in front of my home”
Is that the truth? How embarrassing, maybe the fatigue and pain made him delusional, so desperate that he wanted to go home.
“Ah I’m sorry; there must be something wrong with my eyes. I also apologize that I might unable to pay you back soon”
She sheepishly smiled even wider, though she’s no one to trust a stranger, this man is so bold, reminded her of herself, actually. Besides, attacking her directly won’t result in anything meaningful.
“Well, your injury is not quite fatal, but still you recover fast if the doctor has to be believed. Do you have someone you can contact?”
“Ah yes, but… anyway, we haven’t introduce ourselves, I’m Ichika, Orimura Ichika”
“How silly of me, I’m Orimura Ichika as well”
What followed the friendly laugh is a total silence; soon, it turned into a gawking contest between the two youth.
“…wait what?”
“You said you’re Ichika?” they pointed each other, then refer to themselves “But I’m Ichika Orimura”
Further silence, and this time it lasted for twenty second. Until the nurse came to check “Ah, I see he’s already awake, I’ll inform the doctor soon, please excuse me”
Her brief appearance broke the icy circumstances inside the room, and thus he continued “Something is weird here” he told the girl
“More like fishy, you know” she refuted “I am Ichika, the one and only Orimura Ichika”
“That’s not quite right” he frowned. Since when Ichika Orimura is a girl? What about the hype and uproar he caused February ago?
“For that I agree, then why?”
“Hey I even have-” Ichika grab his left arm, nothing. He began to panic “Where is it? My gauntlet?”
*WOBLE* *WOBLE*
She got infected by his outburst as well, and quickly rummaging through her bag, pulling a silvery white glove, she mumbled “Oh! This is mine”
*WOBLE* *WOBLE* *THUMP*
Then she pulled a bulkier metallic gauntlet “Here it is”
Both of them wore their respective ‘accessory’, and then “BYAKUSHIKI!”
In a split second, their arm engulfed in light, as the light subsidizes, their arm had been covered with mechanical parts, silvery white armor with blue and gold trimming. The difference though, his arm is quite abnormal in length and size.
“Okay, this is awkward…” they contemplated, unknowingly synchronously “But if it’s the color, anyone can make it…”
“Who is my first best friend?” he asked
“Shinonono Houki” she answered flat, then countered “Who is the second one?”
“Dunno, Rin? I mean, Huang Ling Yin” he rose his eyebrow “Where I and Dan met the first time”
“Seventh Hell Arcade…” she hesitantly answered, but certain she got it right “What is his favorite game?” she asked.
“Air Hockey” he replied “And I almost always won anyway”
Okay, this definitely awkward. Then it leaves to one, very, dangerously private question that no people will be able to answer. NO ONE!
“What are Chifuyu-nee’s favorites?”
“Yakiniku. Golden bear Beer. Black laced lingerie!” they chorused at the same time, running out of question until he said “Karaoke shower”
She grimaced “Wait, bottle or shower head?”
“Soap bar if she’s in the tube” he recounted. She tapped her hand with a fist “Well, she used the head when washing herself so-“
Finished with by her response, he nodded “Ah I see-”
*CLENCH* *CRACK*
They felt imminent death but unable to anticipate it, they felt a grip of doom threatened their skeletal integrity. They’ve been this careless when there’s a good chance.
They can hear war drum echoing in their mind, maybe it’s the sound of the Valkyrie, maybe they’ll die anyway and not even their I.S. can save them.
They really want to say, “I glad I met you in the end” and execute a heartfelt, if clichéd goodbye kiss, but they’re too shocked and totally frozen under the sheer pressure.
“Chifuyu-nee” they made a strained smile as their head rolled aside-no, FORCIBLY rolled aside by a woman “Good afternoon”
They saw a Goddess of War and instantly all the blood are drained from every inch of their skin; under her bangs, hey eyes looked down menacingly, with a smile that will condemn them to the seventh generation.
*PANG* *PANG* *KTAAAANG*