In the dojo, situation was tense. Ichika and Houki both wore proper kendo attire, but without protection implement.
If it was anyone, they might joke about “Protection is for pussies”.
Unfortunately, this woman is damn serious on it.
He charged first at blinding acceleration, but she intercepted his attack quite easily, he stepped aside and switched from frontal thrust to side swing, aiming for the waist.
It wasn’t left unguarded either.
By then, Ichika realized that he’s just plain outmatched. She wasn’t toying with him for sure, but she’s not going all out either. No matter how many times Ichika attacked, he always failed.
And a soft, but appropriate humiliating strike to his neck ended the match.
“…I guess that will count as Ippon”
“…if it’s a real duel, your head will roll on the floor”
Ichika’s face remains unmoving; she was quite surprised on that “What? You’re not going to laugh?”
“Why should I?”
Again, that came as surprise to her.
“Most people did” Houki spat, sitting seiza style whereas Ichika sat cross-legged, both lean on the eastern wall of the dojo “They said I have to let loose sometimes…”
“If you don’t want to, don’t. People can only change should they want… or they need to” Ichika smirked “Though, it will not hurt to try to smile sometimes”
“…well, even Madoka wasn’t half as bad before you came here” Houki nodded; her expression flushed by fatigue but mostly embarrassment. She though Ichika will flinch in guilt, but again, he listened seriously, and the way she spoke, accusing him as being the one at fault is definitely not her intention
And she was glad; for once someone didn’t take her word the wrong way.
“I guess even she had to hold back most of the time”
“Military business, figures. We often held out so much that when we snap, we either become insanely dangerous or plain nuts. I remember, the last thing my sister said before I joined Navy officer school is not to stop being human, feeling all sort of emotion despite the hardship and regulation tell us not to”
Despite his relaxed posture and smile, Houki can see that a true soldier to the core lies within him, as their eyes met.
A sudden jolt in her heart forced Houki out of her trance; she stood up and straightened her face. “Sigh, of all people why I should tell you”
Though, if Houki had to be honest, it’s because Ichika listen without lingering motive at all. With that assured, she changed into her flight suit again and politely left.
“T-thank you for listening to me, anyway” she said “Say, if you’re interested, I always training at seventh after dinner”
First thing first, he managed to contact his friend somehow, which he glad he able to. His friend wasn’t changed at all, in fact, or probably, that’s because they met frequently online.
“[You got shot down on first sortie?]”
“Not shot down, idiot, I ran out of fuel” Ichika said “Circumstances forced me to takeoff before the tank is filled. Can’t give details, but it’s really… that bad”
Ichika didn’t need to tell Dan he lost his entire comrade in the ensuing fire, or their flagship sunk or… Ichika couldn’t even hold his sadness from erupting anymore. Dan certainly winced on the way Ichika look, and really guessed the worst.
It was silence for several second, before Dan resumed.
“[Well, what can you expect; this transmission could be traced by someone for all we knew. Either way, congratulation for your survival]”
“Thanks, eh, by the way, do you have a sister or something?”
“[Well, I already told you, my parents divorced before I could even remember anything, but father said something along that line]”
Ichika snorted: a small world indeed. Though, he wouldn’t pry too much seeing the circumstances unfit, at least until he knew her better.
“Well, either way, I met my sister and her all-female squad”
Very expected answer came from across the continent, with all the excitement and curiosity “[Are they beautiful?]”
Ichika don’t know why, but he felt a little pride when he said “Understatement of the year, brother”
“[Humbly request a picture]” Dan made a mock worship gesture, made Ichika laugh “Let’s see if I can get one, but no guarantee on that”
22 September 2004, Allenfort Airbase, Newfield Island, North point.
1500 Hours
The tarmac is warm; the sun just gradually dropped halfway into slumber. From the sky, two navy jets dove gently and landed relatively smooth, despite being designed for carrier operation.
More so than that, Ichika recognized one of them. A light blue colored Two-seater Su-33* Flanker with a snowflake painted on the nose. It was Tatenashi’s plane, one of the first people taking off during the sudden assault by Erusea.
It was accompanied with a darker blue MiG-29K, the same unit he used in the simulator. To his surprise, it has Ribbon strip painted on its tail.
It was supposed to be his team’s Emblem, Ribbon Squadron.
It was Tina Hamilton. The dark-blond haired Osea-Eurasian young woman is a classmate in the navy. And when the Flanker’s canopy popped out, he simply smiled.
No one sat in the backseat; her number two is Tina after all.
“Ready for your test ride, darling?” came a husky voice, which he had familiar with, the Flanker’s pilot alluringly pointed behind with her thumbs and winked her bright red eyes, seductively ruffled her trademarked, pale colored messy hair in the process.
“Yo” Tina jumped out of the ladder as soon as she reached reasonable height, and made a high five with him.
“I’m sorry with what happened with the Ribbons”
“…Where are the rest of the Faeries?”
Utter silence came as answer, and Ichika truly regretted his question, still, it’s now or later.
“Suicide dive against Erusian first attack airfleet, there are too many of them for us to hold…” Tina replied somberly, rested on Ichika’s shoulder whilst seeking for comfort. He platonically put his hand on her head; wondered if such childish method will work.
He really didn’t want to repeat what happened with Madoka.
“Starting now, we’ll work as two-plane, three pilots’ team. We will work as complementary members, we are expected to join any other flight in executing their mission while carrying our own task in the process, and thus, Second Battlegroup has high expectation put upon your shoulder, Sub-Lieutenant Orimura”
“So I’ve been promoted huh… what a joke”
“Expectation… what are they talked about?”
An F-15 tugged and then released aside the Fulcrum, Houki quickly boarded it. Still, Maya climb the stairs and explained to her at least.
“Orimura-kun’s performance certainly something not to be scoffed off. It’s certainly strange for him not to be deployed soon, right?”
“But then, crap sailing all the way” Ichika boarded the smaller jet, seemingly satisfied as he examined the cockpit. It’s been months since he rode the real one “Mobius One here, ready”
“Tina, let’s go”
Tina boarded the Sukhoi, sat behind Tatenashi and quickly wore the required apparel, operating the instrument skillfully at that “Aye”
“Undine here, ready”
Finally, Hanagumi’s plane has been tugged into position, consisted of F-15 (possibly C variant), MiG-29M, and F-20 Tigershark.
Ichika recognized the emblem, therefore, it was Houki, Madoka, and Ran in that order. Apparently, the tigers they used before were temporary placeholder when their craft underwent total maintenance.
“We’re going to loiter around the island twice, they’ll return to their carrier after that” Houki’s voice was heard on Hanagumi’s radio “Consider that Flanker as our leader, she’s an ace, so respect her”
“Roger that”
And thus, all five aircraft takeoff accordingly, executing a blessedly boring patrol mission, something that the Orimura Twins liked since they’re little, flying with not much burden.