LIKE VERY MUCH! [INCOMPLETE]

1.RapidSwitch or Retreat

*Story starts post I.S attack*

"Late..." Nowadays he thoroughly cringed at the word. Ichika Orimura knew for a fact he was going to be late to his next class. This made his body tense up as he stared at the clock in the locker room before slumping back down onto one of the benches, his heart beating anxiously. Just like when someone finds themselves in a life threatening situation; a multitude of ideas flew through Ichika's head at bullet speed.

'All right, let's weigh my options. On one hand I show up tardy to Chifuyu's class and get undoubtedly (and painfully) punished' Ichika thought to himself. He wasn't a fan of that one... 'Or I don't show up... at all? Maybe sis'll be less mad if I leave her be.'

Not one of his best ideas but comparing the two scenarios his fate was sealed regardless, and if there was one thing Ichika knew how to do it was procrastinate on a difficult decision. He chuckled dryly under his breath at his demise. 'Yeah... my sister; forget one of my shortcomings, that'll be the day.' Ichika wanted to believe his sister was hard on him for his own good, to live up to the bar she'd set, but whoever said he wanted that kind of expectation.

Don't get him wrong he thought she was one of- if not the most incredible women alive, Ichika really did love his sister but he couldn't deny that unsightly emotion he harboured in the back of his mind, it made him scratch and squirm in discomfort to think he could even harbour that kind of feeling towards his only family. Was it... resentment?

Not just for Chifuyu but all his alleged friends who flashed their power in his face, what were they trying to prove? Ichika respected their strength but really didn't want to have to feel inferior for the grand situation he was abruptly forced into- Ichika cut his resurfacing thoughts as he changed. One thing Ichika learnt from his sister early on is that complaining didn't get him anywhere with her.

"*Sigh* Right then ditching it is, one class isn't getting me any further behind." he said with a listless attitude. He perked up piling his later issues away for future Ichika to deal with (Sorry bud). Honestly if anything Ichika was a fine study, but it was a little difficult to apply oneself to a new subject that puts the term rocket science to shame...

"I'm a little in awe when I think about how Tabane can process this stuff" he huffed to himself, discreetly passing through the empty hallway, glancing at the I.S manual he was supposed to bring to his next class. When Tabane would hangout with Houki and himself when he came round to play as a kid she always acted like such a ditz. They both got along quite well.

Ichika smirked recalling how they'd sometimes ganging up on Houki when it was entertaining. Even then Houki had a less than fun and games personality (mostly when Tabane held his attention hostage). He just never really saw her as the super-genius the media portrayed her as as a kid.

Speaking of days past; Ichika wasn't one to skip class in his old school, he hadn't actually planned out more than his inaction to show up so where he was headed now was anyone's guess. He opted for anywhere away from his homeroom, Ichika daren't go near it this late in the game but also didn't want to go back to his room in case someone came looking for him.

"Ugh I feel like a convict, I mean what's the worst they can do? ...Shoot me?" Ichika's rhetorical joke deteriorated into distrust of what his high tech military boarding school (and his teacher's) limits were... Not to mention he was on thin ice with his classmates for not teaming up with any of them for the tournament. He still twitched with unease when the term Rapid switch cropped up.

"Charles's firearms are no joke" Ichika said with a bitter tone recalling his last time running late. "Better stay out of sight" he stated, finding himself located at the end of a corridor in front of the maintenance department. "Hmm, how'd I end up here?" Ichika questioned pleasantly surprised at where he'd ended up, not knowing exactly why; he just had fond memories here. He proceeded to open the large metal doors with his hand print; granting access. The doors hummed open as Ichika stepped inside the pitch black rooms. The sensors initiated, illuminating the wide room with circuit pattern lighting round the workshop, booting up all the monitors systems on standby.

"It's no rooftop view but it's secluded, that place has been getting a little too eventful lately." Every time Ichika ate up there he found the risk of him choking on one of the girls "extra lunches" the need to "explain himself?" ever increasing. He was grateful for the food... less so for the consequences it came with.

*1 Hour later*

Time passed staggeringly slowly as Ichika found himself lying on his back on an I.S workbench. He had his I.S's arm partially deployed tossing a some kind of engine component up to the high ceiling before it returned to his bored grasp. He made the mistake of missing lunch when Houki dragged him into training today which didn't help his mood.

"Why did I even-" his self doubt was interrupted as the workshop doors opened alarmingly fast for an unprepared Ichika; dropping the spare I.S component, hitting the ground with a metallic clash.

"Uah!" a startled familiar voice yelped. Ichika jerked up with a blank expression and wide eyes hoping not to see a familiar face... but silently scolding himself for thinking that when his eyes were met with a... surprisingly enjoyable sight.

A short, slightly messy light blue haired girl with a pale complexion and contrasting dark pink gem like eyes under her now tilted glasses; Kanzashi Sarashiki.

Needless to say she wasn't expecting such a loud welcome; clenching the folders occupying arms. There was a brief silence following the commotion for three reasons. One; it was a shock to both unsuspecting student, Two; it was lunch time and Kanzashi had her mouth stuffed with the end of a turkey sub puffing her cheeks out in the most adorable way Ichika had ever seen. And three... they hadn't exactly cleared the awkward air between them before the unmanned IS attack occurred; what with her elder sister Tatenashi's big mouth spilling the beans about requesting they team up...

"Ishkua..." Kanzashi muffled through her sandwich in disarray.

"Uhh... hey partner."

A/N

First time writing ship before, maybe I'll embrace my inner degenerate later..? I got interested in some Infinite Stratos stories by @Creeperleap. Blame them haha!