Hybrid x Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia Volume 1 - Ch 2

Kizuna woke up, his sleep having been restless.

His body felt heavy, a testament to the previous day's utter disaster.

My fatigue is still lingering!?

Waking up this late, even for me, is pushing the boundaries of slacking off.

About 30 centimeters from his face, a pair of red eyes stared intently.

It was Chidorigafuchi Aine, in her uniform, lying prone on the futon above him.

Hey! What are you doing here!?

I've come for yobai. (TN: stealing into a girls bedroom at night to make love)

It's morning!

Isn't yobai also known as an early-morning assault?

No, that gives me the same feeling, but it's somehow different!

As Aine tilted her head, her silver hair cascaded smoothly onto his chest. A pleasant scent wafted through the air. Even through the futon, he could feel the undeniable weight of Aine's breasts.

Setting aside the yobai talk, she might genuinely be serious about this early-morning attack. After all, yesterday her half-naked body had been groped, her bare breasts fondled, and the entire embarrassing ordeal broadcast to the entire student body. From her perspective, she would undoubtedly feel mortified.

So, how are you feeling, I wonder? Excited?

Huh?

You can't even utter a word. I wonder if, far from being excited, you're already transforming into an animal in the throes of mating season?

I am not! Besides, humans don't experience anything like that!

What was going on with this girl? Wasn't she supposed to be here for revenge?

How peculiar. Based on my research, an erotic encounter is supposed to occur when a girl wakes a boy in the morning.

What kind of research is that! Just get away now. I'm already awake.

Glancing at the clock by the pillow, it was already 8 o'clock. Even though the dormitory and the high school building were close, he wanted to arrive at school with some time to spare, it being his first day.

This place was Ataraxia's student dormitory.

Following yesterday's chaos, he had been forcibly relocated. He hadn't brought a single item from his Tokyo residence, but this dormitory came fully furnished for its residents, so he wasn't inconvenienced. Appliances like televisions and audio systems were completely provided, leaving him no room for complaint. The furniture and amenities were so luxurious, he half-expected to be in a high-class hotel.

Most significantly, not all rooms were this opulent. Only members of Amaterasu possessing Heart Hybrid Gear received such preferential treatment, he had heard.

As Aine rose from the bed, she yanked the futon away from Kizuna.

Wha-! Don't just pull it off like that!

Ignoring Kizuna's protests, Aine glared at him with a stern expression.

Then, shall we begin?

Her words sent a wave of pressure, bordering on killing intent, through him.

D-don't tell me, she's really coming after me?

Wh-what is it?

Naturally, it's for some 'love activity.' Given our interactions so far, our love should have reached a fever pitch, correct?

Aine removed her jacket and tossed it aside.

Nothing has heated up even a millimeter. Rather, I'm shrinking here in terror.

You're so dramatic about every little thing. It's fine, let's just get this over with quickly.

Aine seized the collar of Kizuna's sleepwear, pulling it off with enough force to nearly rip the front button.

Kizuna's collarbone down to his stomach was now exposed.

Uwaaaaaa!

Aine froze, still clutching the sleepwear. Her gaze was locked onto Kizuna's upper body, unblinking. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

No, now! Quickly, perform the Heart Hybrid with me!

Wa, wait! Just hold on, why the sudden rush!

At that exact moment, a knock sounded at the door.

Hida-kun? If you don't wake up soon, you'll be late for homeroom, you know?

That voice belonged to Himekawa Hayuru.

It would be disastrous if she discovered him in this predicament.

It was inexcusable of me to be angry with you yesterday without letting you explain. Perhaps you have circumstances of your own. Excuse me, are you there?

Uwaaaa! What, what should I do!? But there's nothing I can do!

He could only offer a silent prayer that Himekawa would simply leave!

By any chance, if you are still sleeping then I have to wake you up then excuse me.

In this specific situation, her inherent kindness was becoming a real torment!

Ara? You are he re, are

Himekawa's eyes registered only Kizuna, his upper body bare, and Aine, her uniform askew, embracing him on the bed. Furthermore, Aine was straddling Kizuna's waist.

Three seconds later, Himekawa reached her own, albeit mistaken, conclusion.

Illicit sexual relationship ho, how shameless in this sacred dormitory, to, to what an indecent act! Yo, you are trying to rape Aine-san again like this! You can't be forgiven anymore!

Youre mistaken! No matter how you look at it, I am the one being cornered here! I am the one being assaulted!

Haa? You are still spouting such nonsense! Do you actually believe such a preposterous excuse? A girl attacking a boy, how absurd.

No, that was the honest truth!

Hayuru. It pains me to say this, but what this pervert is saying is true.

Ha?

The one who is attacking is me.

That, that is

Himekawa staggered, her face a mask of disbelief.

It is necessary to perform Hybrid Heart as quickly as possible, so this cannot be helped.

Aine puffed out her chest proudly.

But why are you acting so smug?

Still, I wonder if this is what they call a female carnivore? It's obvious, but I do love meat, you know. Especially the specialty product of Mie float, Matsusaka beef, it's truly delicious. Kanagawa floats Hayama beef is also hard to ignore. I wonder what kind of meat you like, Hayuru?

Thi this is, my limit. The, the two of you

Himekawa's shoulders trembled with rage.

I will punish you! Neros!!

Red light illuminated the room as crimson armor clad Himekawa's body.

Th-this girl! She's equipping her Heart Hybrid Gear!

L-let's calm down and talk! It's strictly forbidden to engage in personal combat while wearing our gear!

No need to worry. After all, this is official duty as a member of the public morals committee!

Himekawa drew the sword from her hip and slashed at him.

You're imposing your own rules too much!

Zeros.

Aine also materialized her gear and blocked Neros's path.

However, there should be no way to block Neros's sword as it swung down.

Catching a blade with bare hands was an impossible feat from the start. The unarmed Zeros could only be cut down like that—or so it should have been.

Kuh-!

Yet, the sword was halted.

Zeros moved with incredible speed, not stopping the sword itself, but restraining the hand gripping its hilt.

An impudent act.

At this range, you are no match for Zeros.

Is that so? We won't know unless we test it.

Himekawa flashed a belligerent smile.

You, you girls! Don't fight in someone's room! The scale of your battle is

Following that, Kizuna's room suffered devastating damage after less than ten seconds of offense and defense.

What a terrible way to start the morning.

Kizuna exited the dormitory and made his way towards the school building.

It appeared his room would be unusable for some time. Fortunately, an empty room was available, allowing him to change his lodging.

The two perpetrators were severely reprimanded by the dormitory head. As a result, they might be late for school.

Well, they have certainly reaped what they sowed.

He considered using public transportation, but he would still make it in time even if he walked.

He strolled along, taking in the townscape.

Transportation within Ataraxia primarily consisted of underground trains, a precautionary measure against enemy attacks. The interior of these underground trains could also serve as shelter during emergencies.

Next were the unmanned electronic automobiles, utilized as taxis. Their convenience allowed travel anywhere, regardless of the route.

While contemplating these matters, he walked along the immaculately maintained roads.

It seemed this particular area was somehow unaffected by yesterday's battle.

Trees lined both sides of the road, lending a sense of tranquility to those passing by. Numerous students heading to school were also on this path.

Kizuna intended to blend in with the students, but he noticed something peculiar.

No one was approaching Kizuna; they were all actively avoiding his vicinity.

Everyone was veering away from Kizuna's proximity, whispering among themselves from a distance.

Ah, I see. So this is also, reaping what I sowed?

He could overhear the hushed voices.

That's Eros.

Eros, you know.

The Eros.

Aah-, geez! Ero, ero, so noisy!

He quickened his pace, as if trying to flee towards the high school building.

Upon passing through the gates, the imposing school building was immediately visible. Its exposed steel frame and composite material walls gave it a rustic yet cool appearance.

He entered the building through the main entrance.

However, curious stares and malicious gossip followed him everywhere he went, making him feel deeply uncomfortable.

I should just ignore it and head to the classroom. Although, this situation will likely persist in class too.

Err, the second year, first group, if I recall correctly.

The high school section was broadly divided into a battle department and a research department. Being in the battle department, this first group should indeed be a battle department class.

He checked the classroom number plate and opened the door.

All attention converged on him at once, but the students quickly averted their gazes.

However, among the students, a single female raised her hand, smiling towards him.

“Oh my, Kizuna. What business do you have in my class?”

It was Yurisia Farandol who spoke.

With her blonde hair and blue eyes, her uniform struggled to contain her ample breasts and slim waist. As usual, her appearance was quite striking. Yet, far from being gaudy, she resembled a high-grade gemstone, exuding an aura of fine quality and elegance.

Furthermore, surrounding Yurisia were about five or six other female students who appeared to come from privileged backgrounds.

“Wha-, Yurisia-sama! You mustn't speak to that man!”

“Indeed! Interacting with someone like him would surely tarnish you, Yurisia-sama!”

The group of hangers-on glared at Kizuna with hostile eyes.

“How impressive. She truly is like the queen of this high school.”

“Now, now, everyone. He is a transfer student. It’s not good to be unkind to him.”

“My, how kind you are, Yurisia-sama.”

“As expected from the queen of Ataraxia!”

It seemed less like a clique and more like a cult.

“Wait a moment, you lecher! Yurisia-sama is the ace of the American army and the flower of high society; she's a lady of American celebrity. It’s a pipe dream for someone like you to exchange words with her. Don’t come within five meters of her from now on!”

Now that she mentioned it, he recalled seeing news reports about America deploying their Heart Hybrid Gear to Japan. If memory served him right, it was related to strategic deployment in the Pacific Ocean as allied nations, or perhaps reciprocating Japan's provision of Heart Hybrid Gear technology to America. The news covered details like that.

So, the pilot featured in that news broadcast was this Yurisia Farandol.

“Right, right, how awe-inspiring. I already understand.”

“What’s with that attitude?!”

While the hangers-on erupted in anger, Yurisia gazed at Kizuna and gave him a wink.

Her gesture and expression caused his heart to involuntarily skip a beat.

“Alright, everyone, please take your seats. Homeroom is about to begin.”

A female teacher, dressed in a red jersey, entered the classroom.

Her hair was carelessly tied back, and a weary aura emanated from her entire being. He guessed she was in her late twenties. Although she possessed beauty upon closer inspection, it seemed marred by her own demeanor.

“Ah, Hida-kun. You neglected to go to the staff room and came here directly, didn't you?”

“Ah, is that so? I’m sorr–”

“Right, it’s fine, so don’t worry about it. I am Sakasaki Saki. Your homeroom teacher.”

With a sleepy gaze, she waved her hand wearily.

“This is a good timing, okay, come to the front.”

Complying with Sakasaki-sensei’s instruction, he stood at the podium before the class and surveyed the room.

He felt an uncomfortable sensation.

“Err, sensei, aren't there a lot of girls here?”

“A lot? That expression isn’t quite accurate. The correct description would be that there is nobody but girls here.”

“Hm? Because this is an all-girls class, after all.”

“Eh?”

“Look, you students are boys and girls of that age, right? Especially with the stimulation from pilot suits being so strong. To prevent any mistakes from occurring, classes and training are divided between boys and girls. If I were to make a reference, this first group is the top tier of the battle department’s female contingent. This class is called the Flourish class.”

He was completely unaware of the class division system.

“Then, it’s truly a mistake for me to be here. I should quickly head to the boys’ class.”

Sakasaki-sensei firmly grasped Kizuna's wrist as he attempted to leave the room.

“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine. Your place is right here.”

“Haa?”

“Then, you all know him, but I’ll give an introduction one more time. This is Hida Kizuna-kun, who has newly entered this class. Everyone, please get along well with him. In that kind of meaning.”

“Teacher, please don’t say anything like ‘in that kind of meaning’.”

The classroom door burst open loudly, and Himekawa made her entrance, with Aine following behind her.

“Oh, Himekawa and Chidorigafuchi. It’s rare for you two to be late.”

Himekawa walked with loud steps towards the teacher’s podium before pointing at Kizuna.

“I didn't wake up late! It’s the fault of that man over there that I came this late! More importantly, what is the meaning of a boy joining a girls’ class!? Such a thing cannot be permitted!”

“Yep. Sensei also thinks so, but this is actually permitted.”

“Please explain!”

Only on this matter did Kizuna and Himekawa share the same opinion.

“Th-that’s right. Besides, sensei herself just stated it moments ago. That we are all boys and girls of that age, and therefore, this division is to prevent any mistakes from happening.”

“Aah, rather, you *need* to make that mistake. With all you’ve got.”

“What in the world is that!”

Because this is the strategy, it can't be helped. Everyone, do your best in various things with Hida-kun, okay? Errr, yesterday the seats were rearranged to make space for your sitting. Over there, near the window.

The seat the teacher indicated was behind Himekawa, with Aine to his right and Yurisia in front. To his left was a window, a potential escape route to another world. This position, perfectly surrounded by enemies on all sides, was a veritable death trap where he felt isolated and helpless.

No, it didn't matter where he sat; there was no safe zone for him in this classroom. The frigid gazes of all his classmates mercilessly chipped away at his willpower.

By the time morning classes concluded, Kizuna's willpower had plummeted to an all-time low, practically zero.

Haa, I'm so tired.

During the afternoon break, Kizuna practically fled the school building. He couldn't stand the disgusted looks from his classmates, the oppressive atmosphere making him feel like he was suffocating. Stepping outside, he finally drew a breath of relief.

I wonder what I should do for lunch. Maybe I should inquire about the school cafeteria.

However, if he took a single step outside the school grounds, there were numerous food stalls readily available.

Peeking outside, he observed many students happily chatting while enjoying their meals.

If it's like this, then even without a school cafeteria, there won't be any problems at all.

After some hesitation, he ultimately decided to enter a fast-food establishment that seemed safe.

The moment Kizuna stepped inside, however, the lively atmosphere within the store abruptly hushed.

Eh? Wh-what?

O-oi. That guy, that's Eros.

Don't look! It's said you'll get pregnant if your eyes meet his, you know?

I heard that the second-year, Chidorigafuchi, and Himekawa have already fallen prey to him.

Hasn't the assassination plan been implemented yet?

Shh, keep your voice down about that.

Oi oi oi! There's some dangerous talk mixed in there that's not a laughing matter!

Kizuna hurried out of the fast-food store, seeking escape, but outside, the girls' gazes were like those directed at something filthy, while the boys' glares were filled with envy and resentment.

Aah, can I really keep living like this?

Hida-kun.

Kizuna was startled to hear his name being called.

So, there's actually someone who would speak to me here in Ataraxia.

However, comprehension dawned upon him as he saw the source of the voice.

Chidorigafuchi, huh? What business do you have with me?

What are you going to do for lunch?

Uuuuh...

He couldn't provide an answer. Honestly, he had no plans whatsoever.

Is that so? If that's the case, then come with me. I shall bless you with a meal.

Are you treating me, or are you saying I'll be the one treating?

However, there was no one else who would eat with him. In the first place, it didn't seem like he would be able to obtain any lunch. As far as he was concerned, he had no other alternative.

Got it. I'll accept your generous offer. So then, where are we going?

Follow me.

He was led into a forest where no sign of human presence could be found.

As they emerged from the trees, a terrace overlooking the sea came into view, complete with chairs and a table.

Or perhaps it should be said that this place was located very near the spot where he had first met Chidorigafuchi.

Kizuna nervously sat down next to Aine.

When Aine began to open the wrapping she was holding...