Author's Note - It's not much of an idea since I know it's always been done, but I wanted to write it anyways ehe. I'll be borrowing elements from different anime, esp Kuroko no Basket in the OC's appearance, as well as several others that you guys might notice. Anyways, I hope you guys like it. :)

1

"Alright class, I would like to introduce you to a new transfer student who will be joining us. I know we've had a lot of transfer students lately, but please bear in mind that this a school that welcomes all who wish to learn how to pilot an IS." Maya Yamada-Sensei announced to Class 1. "Please welcome Yatogami Koutaro-Kun, from America."

Koutaro stepped nervously into the classroom. It wasn't like any classroom he had ever been in. He'd attended several college classes and listened to lectures from renowned scientists and researchers dedicated to IS technology, but none of them were ever in a room as fancy as this.

There had to have been around 30 students all in one class. All of them were seated behind advanced desks that used holograph imagery to teach. The left wall of the desks were all windows, giving view to all of the IS Academy and it's glory. The Academy was located on a man-made island, with the city just a train station away.

Koutaro gulped. He had forgotten to mention that of all the 30 students in this classroom…all but two were females.

"A boy?"

"There's no way…"

"I thought Orimura was the only one."

"How strange."

"Everyone be nice," Yamada-Sensei said. "Yatogami-Kun, you can introduce yourself if you wish."

"Y-Yes," Koutaro cleared his throat. "My name is Yatogami Koutaro. It's only my second time in Japan so I'm not too accustomed to how things work, however I hope we all get along." He laughed timidly and scratched the back of his head.

Koutaro glanced at the front row, at the seat in front of Yamada-Sensei's podium. It was a boy, the only other male in the world who could control an IS. Koutaro had heard stories of the infamous Ichika Orimura, but meeting him in person…

"Orimura," Yamada-Sensei said. "Since you both are boys, do you think you can show Yatogami-Kun around the school? I'm afraid he'll get lost and overwhelmed."

Orimura stood up nervously. "O-Of course," He faced Koutaro. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Yatogami-Kun."

"Koutaro is fine," He smiled. "It's nice to meet you too, Ichika."

He hadn't noticed it before with all the anxiety, but the eyes that were on him from his female classmates were…intense. He felt like he was being stabbed with their gazes.

"It's okay," Ichika whispered. "You'll get used to it soon enough."

"W-Will I…" Koutaro laughed nervously.

"Yatogami-Kun," Sensei said. "Why don't you take the seat in the back? Next to Cecilia Alcott. Cecilia, can you raise your hand please?"

A fair and beautiful blonde girl in the back of the room stood up and raised her hand. She had fairly long pale blonde hair curled into ringlets. Her blue eyes reminded Koutaro of the sky. She wore a modified form of the school's uniform. But…why did she look so familiar…

"L-Lia-Chan?" Koutaro exclaimed confusion.

The entire class's attention was on the two of them. Lia was still surprised by the fact that Koutaro knew her. She had changed so much. Koutaro remembered her to be so tiny, a fragile damsel. She'd grown up so much since the lost time he'd seen her.

"You can't be…" Lia narrowed her eyes. "Kouta!"

Lia ran from her desk and leaped his arms. They hugged closely. She was so warm. He couldn't help but feel nostalgic. The last time he saw her was…maybe seven years ago?

"How long has it been? I haven't seen you in forever. You stopped coming to visit." Koutaro smiled.

"Y-Yeah well…" Lia said, nervously. "Father insisted I stay in London and focus on my studies. I was supposed to come back every summer, but then the IS was introduced and…"

It all made sense. She was here as a student…and since she's from London that means… "Wait, there's no way. You're the U.K's representative contender? Lia that's amazing!"

Lia hid her face. Kouta tilted his head. "Lia, are you okay? You're all red."

"Cecilia? Do you know Yatogami-Kun?" Yamada-Sensei asked.

Lia stiffened up. "Y-Yes. He's my childhood friend. We've known each other since we were kids."

"Heh? Really? Well if that's the case, can you help Orimura show him around? It might be better with two people."

"Yes…I suppose I can do that…"

…

Class didn't seem to be all that informing. Because Koutaro was knew to the school, Yamada-Sensei went over the history of the IS academy and the IS system itself.

The Infinite Stratos, IS for short, was originally developed to be a deep space suit piloted by men. However since it's advancement, somehow only females could operate one. There weren't that many units in the world to begin with, since Tabane Shinonono refuses to divulge the secret to the IS core. Koutaro had read that it was supposed to be a self generating black box of energy that could power an entire city for years. That much power condensed into a single suit of armor…it was no wonder everybody coveted an IS so much.

He also knew how dangerous the IS were. Something so powerful, if it fell into the wrong hands, a war could break out over power. Thankfully the IS peace treaty was signed and the Alaska Treaty prohibited the use of the IS in any form of government or military use. Now the IS are being used for sports and competition.

Koutaro leaned on his arm and glanced over to Lia. Cecilia Alcott, the daughter of the CEO of London's biggest Research and Development company for IS research. It made sense why she would be a representative contender.

He couldn't but picture the little girl he used to play with every few months when she and her family came to visit. Koutaro's mother and Cecilia's father were old friends from high school who kept in touch even after they went their separate ways. Her family would fly to California and spend a few weeks with Koutaro and his mom. She'd grown up so much.

But then again, he couldn't act like he hadn't changed as well. Now he was a first year in high school. His red hair was rather short but spiked back. He also had piercings on both ears, dangling earring on his left and a simple hoop on his right. His most noticeable feature however, were his eyes. His mother told him he was born with heterochromia, a condition that resulted in two different colored irises. His right was a bright shade of red that complimented his dark shade of crimson hair. His left however was golden yellow, like a jewel. He always thought he was a freak growing up, since his hair and eyes were natural that color. Those doubts and anxiety never went away…

"Um…Koutaro-Kun?" That voice, it was Ichika. Koutaro looked up to see Ichika by his desk. He was of average height, around 5'7 like Koutaro, with medium length black hair that came past his eyes and dark eyes. "Ready for the tour?"

"Class is over?" Koutaro cursed himself. He was thinking to himself for so long he hadn't noticed he had missed everything Yamada-Sensei had said.

"Yeah, you seemed pretty out of it. Is everything okay?" Ichika asked.

"Yeah, I guess just getting used to my new life here." Koutaro stood up from his desk. "Shall we go then?"

"Did you two forget about me?" Lia pouted.

"N-No, of course not Cecilia," Ichika smiled. "Alright, let's go then."

The IS Academy really was something else. The only institute in all the world that was dedicated to training and nurturing future IS pilots. There were several stadiums all over the island up for use. There was also several garages for student and faculty use to upgrade and modify their personal IS units, however there weren't that many students who had access to their own unit. Koutaro figured it was only the representative contenders and special cases exempted by the government.

"So? What do you think?" Ichika asked. "This place is pretty amazing right?"

"Yeah, tell me about it," Koutaro still was in awe. "I've never been to anywhere so advanced."

"The locker rooms are next to the dormitories so I'll show you there later when we have practical training," Ichika said. "And since we're the only two boys, looks like we're rooming together."

Koutaro smiled. "Don't tell me you had to room with a girl."

Ichika's cheeks got red.

"No way…" Koutaro's jaw dropped. He burst out laughing. "That's hysterical! Please tell me you didn't do anything stupid."

"Oh he did many stupid things," Lia said angrily with her hands on her hips. "Perhaps we should introduce Kouta to the others later?"

"Yeah, you'd better get changed Cecilia. Training will start soon,"

"Oh alright," Lia smiled. "I'll see you later then Kouta, Ichika." She waved as she walked towards the lockers.

Ichika nudged him on the elbow. "So, you two know each other huh?"

Kouta smirked. "It's not like that. We're childhood friends. I've known her since I was 6. But what about you huh stud? I may not have been paying attention to class, but I saw those girls circling around you. What's up with that huh?"

Ichika sighed. "I don't even know…it's like a never ending horror story with them."

Koutaro laughed. "Yeah I guess it must be tough being the only guy around all these girls for so long huh. Don't worry, I'm here now so you don't have to worry anymore."

"Yeah…" Ichika said. "Boy do I have a story to tell you."

The two made their way to the locker room, just next to the dormitories and close to the practical training stadium. It was rather spacious with aisles and aisles of lockers. A floating clock was in the middle of the room that spun so it was visible to everybody, though the two of them were the only ones present. Apparently all the girls had already changed and had fathered on the field.

"You're kidding me," Koutaro said as he put on his shirt. "She pretended to be a boy? Man that must have been confusing."

"Yeah tell me about it," Ichika sighed. "I walked in on her showering and well…here we are."

"Charlotte huh? She sounds pretty nice," Koutaro laughed.

Ichika wore a similar uniform to his, however where Ichika's was a two piece suit, Koutaro's was a one piece. Black with streaks of red and white along his shoulders and legs.

"That's a nice necklace," Ichika said.

Koutaro looked down to see the angel pendant around his neck. He hadn't realized he was still wearing it. "Oh, yeah. It was a going away present from my mom."

"She sure must miss you huh," Ichika said.

"Yeah, but I'm sure your mom misses you too doesn't she?"

Ichika shook his head. "The only family I have is my big sister. My parents abandoned us when I was a baby so she practically raised me. She's actually an instructor here…I'm sure you'll see her soon."

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

Ichika smirked. "No, it's okay. Come on, everyone's waiting for us."

As expected, they were late. All the girls had already formed lines facing Yamada-Sensei and an unfamiliar instructor. She had short greenish hair…why did she look so much like Ichika?

"Alright class listen up!" The instructor. "Those of you with a personal unit, step forward. Today we'll be demonstrating basic movement and combat techniques."

Cecilia and several other girls stepped forward next to the instructor. And sure enough, Ichika stepped forward as well. "You have your own unit?" Koutaro raised an eyebrow.

"Yep," Ichika said holding up his right hand. A silver bracelet was around his wrist.

Koutaro scanned the girls in front. Aside from Cecilia and Ichika, Koutaro didn't recognize anyone else. There was a girl with blonde hair, a girl with silvery white hair and an eyepatch, a girl with brown hair in pigtails, and a girl with black hair and an intimidating look.

"Yatogami," the instructor said. "What are you doing? I said everybody with a personal unit, step forward."

"Oh, right. Sorry mam." Koutaro joined the six of them, to the shock of everyone present.

"WHAT!"

"Yatogami has his own unit!"

"But I thought only-"

"Wait a minute," Lia said. "Kouta, you're not…"

"Everybody quiet!" The instructor shouted. "Your newest classmate happens to be the representative contender for the United States. In fact, he's also an undefeated champion, winning the Junior Mondo Grosso three years in a row."

"EHHHHHHHHHHHH?"

Koutaro stared at everyone with a blank expression. He smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head. "Oh, did I forget to mention that? Sorry, my bad."