3rd POV
On the day Yap Haruto finally made a full recovery, Rei Kuroshima simultaneously applied for the second-year evaluations and new intakes.
"So, Tatenashi. Next year's gonna be your third year." Haruto said to the student council president some days before his, as well as Ichika, Laura, Cecilia, Houki and Rin's second year begin.
"Try not to fool around that much. But then again, hard to really say since despite this academy being prestigious, most of the students sure love screwing around." He shrugged.
Tatenashi Sarashiki leaned back on the bench just outside the IS Academy's central garden, the light breeze teasing the ends of her long blue hair. She took a slow sip from her tea flask before giving Haruto a familiar, sly smile.
"You're one to talk, Haruto. From what I heard, you nearly died twice and still walked back like some dramatic action hero." Her voice was teasing, but her eyes carried a flicker of something deeper—concern, maybe, though expertly masked.
Haruto chuckled softly, hands behind his head, gaze lazily following a drifting cloud. "Yeah, well... I don't really recommend it."
"You're right about one thing though," Tatenashi continued, brushing imaginary dust from her uniform. "Next year is going to be different. Third year's when we start looking beyond school—military programs, defense contracts, maybe even black-budget projects."
She turned her gaze to him. "You think you're ready for that?"
Haruto gave a noncommittal shrug. "Not entirely. But then again, I never was. Doesn't mean I won't figure it out on the way."
"Classic Yap Haruto answer." Tatenashi laughed. "But seriously. Keep your eyes open. There's change coming. I can feel it. The faculty's tense, the board's been in and out of meetings, and I heard whispers—rumors—about reinstatements."
He raised an eyebrow. "You mean...?"
"Yes. Rei Kuroshima."
That made Haruto pause.
"You're kidding."
"I never joke about reapplicants who once tried to use a prototype IS to mess with the very fabric of the mental-pilot link." Tatenashi's tone was clipped now. "Apparently, she's on conditional terms. One screw-up and she's out. But knowing the politics behind Arclights, she'll be watched like a hawk—and so will you."
Haruto leaned forward, thoughtful now. "Figures. So this peace is just the calm before the storm."
"I'm counting on it." She grinned again, standing up and stretching. "So, second-year Haruto—try not to die. Again. I'm not sure the infirmary staff could take another round of you."
Haruto laughed, rising beside her. "Yeah, yeah. I'll pencil it in: 'Try not to die. Again.' Right under 'Don't get dragged into ridiculous fights.'"
"You forgot 'Don't provoke psycho girls with advanced IS units.'"
"Oh, right." He scratched his head. "That one keeps slipping my mind."
As they parted ways, the campus grounds slowly returned to their usual rhythm—except in the administrative wing, where a file stamped REINSTATED UNDER PROBATIONARY ENROLLMENT was being processed. A familiar name sat boldly at the top:
Rei Kuroshima.
Soon, Haruto meets with his friends, waving his hand at them as he took a seat casually.
"Yo. I've recovered. Looks like we've the month off till second year kicks in huh?"
YOU ARE READING
A Vengeful Retribution
Fanfiction(OC X Infinite Stratos) I guess you know where this is going. 2nd Male IS Pilot thing. Meet Yap. Growing up in South East Asia wasn't easy for a young boi like him. Compared to kids in other countries, he has seen what a kid doesn't; Bloodshed, assa...
