Beta: None
Original release date: 07/12/15

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Infinite Stratos universe.

Author note: I've watched seasons one and two of the anime and this takes place after season two ended. Just trying to give any potential spoilers a heads up. I use Ling instead of the dubbed's version, Rin.


Chapter Two – From Five to Seven

"Ichika, we need to speak with you" says Charlotte at the lunch the day following Laura's date.

Looking around at the five serious faces sitting in the booth with him more or less in the middle, Ichika gulps before going, "A-alright."

"We all agree that YOU have to take each one of us on a date, to get to know us better" declares Ling.

"And as I am part of the most elite IS pilots, you are lucky enough to take me on your next date" declares Cecilia.

"That's not what we agreed with. Ichika, choose a number between one through four" replies Houki, looking angrily at Cecilia.

Cecilia just glares at Houki, who has a smirk on her face.

"Why do I need to pick a number between one and four?" replies Ichika confused.

"Because it isn't fair that Laura got a date with you. So we each have our own number and based on the number you choose, it will determine who gets the next date with you" states Charlotte calmly.

"Fine the. I choose…the number two" states Ichika, looking at the four girls who hadn't had a date with him yet.

Placing her left hand on Ichika's right hand, Houki blushes and smiles, "Then it is you and I. Saturday evening you and I are going to be together…alone."

"But Houki, we've been friends for so long that I practically know everything about—" begins Ichika before a loud slapping sound echoes around the cafeteria.

"Orimura" growls Houki.

Eyes wide in surprise, Ichika gingerly touches the place on his face where Houki just slapped him.

"You WILL meet me at my room at six pm sharp on Saturday, or so help me…" growls Houki before storming off.

As silence descends upon the rest of the group, Ichika barks out a laugh before replying, "I deserved that. She deserves a fair chance too."


/*at 5:59pm on Saturday*/

Wearing a nice pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt, Ichika knocks on Houki's door, revealing Houki in a skirt, shirt, hair still in her normal ponytail.

"A-ah, you look nice this evening, Houki" stammers Ichika.

Blushing, Houki avoids eye contact and crosses her arms before replying softly, "Thanks."

"Well, what would you like to do for our date?" inquiries Ichika.

"I-I'm not certain. I thought we might just walk around the city and just spend time together. Maybe a nice dinner?" replies Houki.

"Which would you like to do first?"
"YOU"RE the one taking ME on the date, YOU figure it out" states Houki crossly, arms crossed.

"Alright then. Dinner first, and then whatever else afterwards?" suggests Ichika.

Walking through the city, Ichika and Houki are side by side, still somewhat silent. "Do you like Italian cuisine?" asks Ichika, finally speaking since leaving the academy.

"I've never tried it before" replies Houki quietly.

Being seated in a local Italian restaurant, both are quiet as they peruse the menu before finally ordering drinks and then their food. As silence begins to descend over the couple, Houki asks, "Ichika, do you like reading?"

"Reading what? The manuals for class?"

"N-no, I mean like for pleasure. Something to do in your free time" replies Houki.
Pondering for a few seconds, Ichika states, "No, I don't really. I don't really have any books like that though."
"Would you like to go to a bookstore with me after dinner then?"

Smiling, Ichika replies, "Sounds like fun."

Each paying for their portion of the meal, even after Ichika offers to pay for both of them, Houki wraps her arms around Ichika's right arm as they walk side by side in search of a bookstore. Managing to find one, Ichika opens the door, letting Houki enter first, before following Houki to the fiction section.

"What do you recommend?" asks Ichika, peering at titles on the shelves.

"Well, if you like stories that transport you to another universe, I think science fiction, fantasy, and possibly anything under fiction would work. There are also books on history if you want to read something like that. Just pick up a few books, read their back cover, and maybe even a few pages from the book to see if you like how it starts" states Houki, smiling.

Roughly thirty minutes later and a few bags of books later, Houki and Ichika leave the bookstore, heading back to the academy. As they walk, Houki remarks, "It's nice to have you alone to myself."

"It was pleasant. And you opened my eyes to some new worlds in books. Can't wait to dig into 'The Day Technology Failed'" replies Ichika, grinning.
Blushing, Houki continues their walk thinking over their date in quiet. Just like a gentleman should, Ichika walks Houki to her room, giving her a good night hug. Making it back to his room, Ichika flops onto his bed, clearly tired. Opening his eyes, Ichika comes face to face with Tatenashi, smiling.
"Hiya Ichika."

Sighing, Ichika sits up and replies, "Yes? And how did you get into my room? I was told that I got a new lock."

"Oh, you know, I'm student body president, so I can get in any where I want. So…how was your date with Houki?"

"H-huh, how did you know about that?" inquiries Ichika.

Snapping her fan out, Tatenashi replies sweetly, "Oh Ichika, I'm Student Body President. I know all of the going ons. Last week you had a wonderful date with Laura I hear."

Hanging his head, Ichika replies, "Yes, that is true."

"Sooo, when does Kanzashi get to go on one with you?" asks Tatenashi somewhat teasingly.

"Uh, the girls have a way to randomize it, so all she has to do is participate in that."

"Hmm. Can I get mine now? You…can…have…me." replies Tatenashi with a smile that hints at a hidden plan.
In Houki's room, the five girls in their pajamas gather in a semi-circle, talking about Houki and Laura's date.

"Ichika has finally become less dense" states Ling smiling.
"And he's such a gentleman it sounds like" adds Charlotte.

"So you two vent to a bookstore?" inquiries Laura quizzically.

"And he seemed so happy discovering so many books to read when he isn't practicing" replies Houki, smiling at the memory.

"What did he buy?" inquiries everyone but Houki at the same time.

Describing the multiple books Ichika had purchased, Houki gets pestered with questions about the plots of each book, fielding the questions with a growing sense of anger. An hour or two later, the girls disperse for the evening, ideas of their perfect date with Ichika forming, even if they had already had a date with him.


Author note: Thank you, Havok416. I kept seeing series rewrites, which are great, but I wanted to make something new/that hadn't really been seen a lot.
Guest – I don't do the honorifics very well and I didn't want to mess that up, so making the dialogue more like how they spoke in season one of the anime was a goal of mine. Of course I'm still working on that, but thank you. :)

Guest – Thank you. I thought the plot would be interesting. I definitely will be continuing this now, just not certain how many chapters overall it would be. But with seven girls [we all know Tatenashi will want in on it too], there should be a decent bit of chapters.

New Universe Returns – Thanks. I think that Ichika just didn't understand the ulterior motives of the girls, and with that much more cleared up, that his denseness shouldn't be there nearly as much. But does this revelation of his harem liking him lead him to be suspicious of everyone offering him compliments, etc?

I do hope you all pardon me for Ichika's casual attire. Not knowing what Houki would want to do with him, he wore something that was casual enough to not look too out of place at say a fast food restaurant, but nice enough that if they went to a concert, that he wouldn't be completely underdressed. Any book by the name of 'The Day Technology Failed' is purely coincidental.