Chapters 2/3- The Lull of Middle School

Foreword- Wow, I didn't think it would be so soon before I had to do another one of these, but here we are. If you don't remember I'm Mayflower Productions, author of this young story, back at it with another installment of Infinite Loner. I was originally just going to publish chapter 2 but by overwhelming public demand, I decided to throw restraint into the wind and add chapter 3 to this update. I thought that since the two were so heavily connected I saw no issue in releasing them together. Please be thankful to all the wonderful reviewers asking for more content, as they motivated me to make this decision. Now, where was I... explaining the vague inspiration for this section of the story, very soon you're going to see my interpretation of the incident in the context of this new world, Hikigaya may act OOC for a bit, but there's a method behind my madness. This loner isn't the same as the one we know, and his past is different if you couldn't tell from the first chapter, so don't be surprised if his rationale seems odd. We're eventually going to see someone similar to the Monster of Logic in IS Academy, so don't worry, it's just going to take a while. Not familiar with the main character? Don't worry, I've probably done a good enough job as a storyteller to make Hikigaya's actions easy to understand. Also before I forget Infinite Loner is in no way trying to make overt political statements, I'm just adapting material directly mentioned in the IS light novel. Well, that's all I have to say, so... Next Stop: Infinite Loner Chapters 2/3- The Middle School Arc

Disclaimer: I do not own Infinite Stratos, Oregairu, or any other intellectual properties that may appear in this story. Please don't sue me.

Infinite Loner- line break, POV shift "I'm the Monster of Logic."- Dialogue

Chapter 2: Middle School was a Trainwreck as Expected Part 2

Days slowly passed after the dropping of Komachi's massive bombshell. Even though I trudged along with my summer ambitions, life felt incomplete without "his" random guest appearances paired with his rudimentary gaming commentary. And no dear reader, I am not romantically attached to the Blockhead. Does this look like a BL novel? He just provided the perfect sedative for the nightmare that is middle school. Eventually, the break came to an end, and school reared its ugly head again. The first few months back were quiet and uneventful, with no attention paying to me or did I to the rest of the class. It was cathartic the amount of time I had to myself at school, so cathartic in fact that I actually decided to apply myself academically. I know what you're about to say, "Isn't to work is to lose a universal truth," and yes, it's true, but like all great laws, there lie a few exceptions. It's not like I had anything better to do, and besides, work is the spice of life... or is it, love? Whatever, I needed a distraction from all the riajuu tomfoolery around me, and academics were just the answer.

As the seasons passed from Fall to Winter, I was 100% focused on my studies and hoping for a strong showing in the Exams and final Second-Year Rankings. Therefore, countless hours were spent polishing my superior Modern Japanese, building up solid subjects, and tirelessly pushing my weak points of Math and Science to a slightly above passing level. My efforts started to shine as my grades rose, and I brought home rising scores. Even my highly overworked corporate slave parents acknowledged my efforts with a new bicycle as a gift; I don't even remember the last time they cared about my existence which makes their gestures extremely significant.

For those few months, life felt good, running full-speed towards a goal. I only had to remind myself every other night about what went wrong along the way: humiliating myself on the first day of middle school, spending a whole year serving a girl as her faithful hound, naively opening up to others, and falling in love for all the wrong reasons. In the end, I ignored the world for the sake of progress, and it worked, my Finals were elite, and the days toward final rankings grew ever closer until...

Final Ranking Day

The classroom was unusually quiet as I walked in. It almost felt like a morgue inside. Taking my seat, I could not help but squirm in excitement for the listing, the administration couldn't ignore me any longer if I topped the charts.

School quickly flew by as before I knew it, classes ended, and everyone flocked into the hallway to observe the final standings. After an eternity of waiting for space, I wormed my way to the front and checked the listing. Hmm. Not 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2. Did I slip outside of the Top 10? Glancing up to the Number One Performer, I could not help but gasp in shock. "Number 1- Hikigaya Hachiman. Wait, that's me!"

The whole class shared my thoughts, "Nani!" Uh oh, they noticed, and being youthful (read: judgemental and narrow-minded) individuals they are, my performance may strike a chord within them. And being a firm believer of non-intervention, I attempted to flee until...

"Hiki-frog! Where are you going." One of the ruffians stopped me with a firm grasp on my shoulder. Wait I know this guy, he gave me the wrong directions to his 9th birthday party; I ending spending an entire day waiting in an empty parking lot because of him. He's also one of the most popular guys in my year... No.

"Yeah, Hikigay-kun! We need to celebrate how you took Ichika-kun away from us, tarnished Kaori's reputation with your confession, and used your dead fish eyes to cheat your way to the top of the rankings all in the same year. Where's the rush?" Some random (Hmm, she looks familiar) popular girl adds, her clique humming in agreement. Hold on, what gives you the right to badmouth me? Only I can do that.

"Guys, if you keep growing in number, I don't think we can call this a celebration anymore. It's going to turn into a mob." I awkwardly laughed at the group while attempting to vacate the premises. I'm not even joking when I say that the crowd was swelling, as it was approaching the point of blocking all possible exits with students from other years joining their ranks. The "danger alarm" was blaring in my head. I needed to leave.

"Come on, guys, we're all friends here, right?" I attempted one last plea for my physical well-being, searching for any sign of salvation within the masses... Teachers, there's one right in front of me they should help me, a soon-to-be victim of bullying, right? "Sensei..." I desperately murmur, but they walk in the other direction, not even sparing me a passing glance. Strike one. Well, it's not that big of a surprise since the education system is so corrupt.

Uh, what about the principal; they don't call her the headmistress for nothing; she's even in the crowd, "Headmistress, please..." I frantically mouth in her direction, and she looks into my eyes. Yes, do your job, and help me... No, don't cheer on the other students, especially the one who just criticized me. Wait, that's why she felt familiar, that riajuu was the principal's daughter. *sigh* I hate nepotism. Strike two. You know what I never liked her anyway, as she always made me clean up every cultural festival, alone. Ok, if adults won't do anything, maybe one of my sensible peers will. Now the question is, who can I turn to at a time like this? Quickly scanning the crowd for an answer, I find nothing except her, the Nice Girl...

For a few seconds, time stopped, leaving the two of us in our one silent dimension, "Orimoto-san, we're friends, right? Can you please put in a good word to our classmates?" I beg with every ounce of my existence. I know that I may not have the rosiest opinion of people like her, but maybe I'm wrong? This can be the moment where she redeems herself and puts the ideals of nice girls into practice.

She warmly smiles. Even now, it still looks beautiful. I can almost hear those foolish words slip off my tongue, "I ... you... go ... with me." When was the last time I saw this, the moment she rejected me, or was it when I fell for her all so long ago? "Help you? That's hilarious, Hikigaya."

"..." My soul shattered into countless pieces... heh, Heh, HEH! Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on... me.

Time restarted and the horde grew closer, "Definitely!" They cracked their knuckles and prepared to strike like a pride of lions around a buffalo... Well, guess I'm a goner. No amount of logic, reasoning, or even groveling will get me out of this. If I go down here, someone should at least tell Komachi that I loved her to the very end, sis-con or otherwise.

Infinite Loner

It has been a few hours since onii-chan should have come home, and I sure hope he didn't get into any trouble. He was unusually excited today and woke up early with a large smile plastering his face. It's rare to see him look so happy; I would hate for anything to ruin his mood. Ever since Ichika left, onii-chan has started acting differently, sure my brother was never the most expressive person, but I can barely recognize him these days. Every day after school he immediately locks himself in his room to study and whenever I talk to him he seems withdrawn with his mind somewhere else. My friends tell me that his reputation's not the best at school, but there's no way he's being bullied, right? He even says it himself that all his classmates love him, so there is nothing to worry about, but... could he be lying? The house is creepily eerie with just me and Kamakura, the best cat ever, and I honestly feel a little scared. I've always hated this, an empty house, and silently appreciated how onii-chan made an effort to arrive early after his classes, even though he mainly does it for more selfish reasons (not having friends) but it's the thought that counts. While lost in my thoughts, the door slowly opens, and someone walks... no... trudges inside. "Who is it?" My voice weakly eeks out.

"Oi Komachi! It's just me." Onii-chan replies in a dry, unenthusiastic tone as he moves into the living room. I guess all my concerns were for nothing...

"Oh, where have you been..." As I laid my eyes on him, his beaten-up appearance was clear to see, school uniform caked in dirt, left eye discolored, right cheek swollen, one leg limping, hands wrapped in bandages. I knew it. Something happened to him today. The question is how to coax the story out of him? Even at his lowest, my brother is still a "Monster of Logic," capable of glossing over the truth with ease. He probably has some cover story prepared as a contingency.

Clearly noticing my concern, he calmly states," Oh these, {his wounds} they were the result of a careless bicycle rider tripping on a pothole on the way back from a long year-end celebration party with friends." Wait, something about that statement doesn't add up...

"Hold on, You don't have any friends!" I eventually exclaimed after thinking for a few seconds. By that time, he was already gone, and his bedroom door quickly locked. It looks like I won't be getting answers out of him any time soon.

Silence returned to the house for an hour before a mellow tantrum buzzed from upstairs. "This is the problem with youth; anyone decides to upset their unsaid, "status quo," and they attack. I tried making friends and believing in others, but it backfired. I mind my own business for a few months, doing no wrong, and they still hurt me! You know what screw popularity and academic success if they just cause a scene. I'll become a loner... no, not just any run-of-the-mill loner, but THE KING OF LONERS, silently praying for all the riajuu to explode! Ha, ha, ha..."

"..."

"*sigh* "If lying is an act of kindness, then nice girls are a lie," how could I forget. You told yourself that every single day, yet you still fell back on her "kindness" once the going got tough... Man, I'm so pathetic. *sobs quietly*". Well, onii-chan, the year is over, so there is no way it can get any worse... right?

Chapter End

Chapter 3: Sadly, Time Does not Heal all Wounds

(Months Later)

Well, I guess it is now official, "My Third Year of Middle School is a Complete Trainwreck, as I Expected." (TM). "Conveniently," my class happened to be full of many familiar faces from last year, including Miss Superficiality herself. I guess the school administration really hated my guts, after all. Sure, the environment was not as outright toxic as Final Ranking Day, but it was still incredibly hostile towards me. Everywhere I go, subdued whispers and harsh gazes follow. Boys incessantly chant demeaning insults for my foolish confession, and girls gang up on me in packs, creating troublesome rumors, sabotaging my desk, locker, and indoor shoes, making my life a living nightmare.

What, surprised that the girls treat me worse than the boys? You must not understand how the world currently works, as ever since ten years ago, women cemented their place at the forefront of society. What, you think that sounds like a good thing? Maybe on a macro level, in terms of politics and media, but not for individuals; now, instead of just men acting like arrogant jerks, physically harassing others, women are like that too.

Nothing has changed: the strong exploiting the weak, teachers turning a blind eye to bullying, corporations working their employees to the bone. It's all just a game of optics; if everyone wants to be strong and independent, someone has to foot the bill, be the weak and submissive, meaning... introverted men like myself. It's as they say, "with every give, there is a take," and for doormats like myself, we fear the "honey-trap" epidemic; dead-end job, complete subservience to any woman, unhealthily low self-confidence.

Sometimes when I'm outside, I see it in action; a wife verbally berating her husband for some minuscule mistake, the regular public shaming of loners by the "morality police," men profusely bowing and paying a woman just for running into her, the list goes on and on. It's horrifying to know that there's a good chance I'll become just another statistic, a nameless figure slaving away for some black company, trapped under a reverse glass ceiling in a loveless relationship with a sadist.

Quick, Hachiman, come up with a fitting name for this phenomenon... Uh, a steel floor... Yes, the steel floor, the new bane of every mild-mannered (read: non-riajuu) man's existence... *sigh* Just talking about it makes me feel depressed.

In other news, after recognizing last year's issues, I sidelined my academic ambitions and strengthened my stealth skills to truly embrace my role as a background character. I don't eat lunch at my desk anymore and instead retreated to the quiet rooftop.

By summer break, my school life upgraded from hell to an unpleasant dream. Any progress is good progress, I guess. The only problem I have now is the lack of an outlet for all my pent-up passive-aggressiveness against my "peers." I tried gaming, but my "catalog" lacked multiplayer titles for the simple fact that you can't trust anyone except number one to watch your flank. I'm not sane enough to put up with grinding RPGs or gambling my meager savings into rigged gacha games. Visual novels also failed as each session just devolves into a mental breakdown, "You literally do nothing, and they fall for you... I wish I could live in a world like that, one where girls don't incessantly brag about their inherent superiority over you just because of one stupid invention, or boys use every single conceivable insulting nickname just to annoy you. It must be nice having parents who are actually there, working only 40 hour weeks, friends to talk to, goals to work towards, classes to enjoy... Die in a fire, you Rom-com Protagonist!"

Yes, every single time, the same thing happened... yes, at the monitor, of course, it got so bad that I had to reluctantly trek outside and interact with the... *gasp*... "local community." "Oi, Komachi, I'm heading out to the gym," I explained to my little sister as I left the house.

"Wait, you exercise?" She quickly questions as the door closes. Silly Imouto, I'm no athlete, just a guy who thinks way too much about others. Funny story, a few weeks ago, I swam two kilometers in P.E class just for the heck of it. I just kept going, going, and going, longer than anyone else. Sure I immediately slept for 13 hours afterward at home, but it was well worth the effort. I channeled all my growing displeasure at society into swimming with no consequences, opening a new door. When social and mental fitness is off the board, exercise lies as the only avenue to preserving my waning sanity. It's not easy being the class martyr, you know~? Thanks to these efforts, I only occasionally cry myself to sleep. The walk to the said gym was very uneventful with the use of my freshly minted 108 Loner Skill "Stealth Hikki," which temporarily diminishes my presence to the point where I can dance in front of a person, unnoticed in broad daylight. I developed it to prevent any other "physical outbursts" from my classmates or the ever-watchful gaze of the "morality police," the self-proclaimed defenders of public decency (read: the anti-Hikigaya league).

Once there, I began my routine; cardio, cardio, and more cardio. Why such a simple workout, you may ask? The weight-lifting equipment was disqualified since it required effort to safely operate, a no-no for an energy-efficient (read: lazy) individual like myself. Besides, there was Treadmill-chan, the greatest invention in human history. In short, she was the perfect companion for an edgy teenager. I know I sound ridiculous but hear me out here. Treadmill-chan makes it possible to build up my stamina and speed (able to run away faster from potential bullies) and monologue as long as I wanted without distraction since I was in a rarely visited corner of the facility. And so I ran my problems away for the next hour at a blistering pace (speeds of 5kph/3mph) before deciding to take a well-deserved break (lol) on the bench nearby. Preemptively activating "Stealth Hikki" to conceal my aura, I enjoyed a few minutes of quiet relaxation before unfamiliar steps grew closer and settled on the seat next to me.

"Um..." A quiet feminine voice draws my attention. Uh, a meek girl, I really can't be bothered to deal with one right now. I'm no weak-willed Harem protagonist unable to hold a coherent conversation with a girl... It's not like I can't talk to them, more like they lack the willpower to approach me. For I am Hikigaya Hachiman, Monster of Logic, and the martyr of Chiba Central Middle School!.. Maybe, just maybe, I now understand why they avoid me.

"What. What do you want, as I don't have all day, you know~?" I politely yet firmly demand to force an answer out of her and move this conservation along. Wait, she looks awfully familiar... long dark hair, green ribbon, and an angry scowl. I've seen her from somewhere... Is she glaring at me? Why? I have been nothing but a gentleman to you... Ok, for my standards.

"Follow. Right. Now." She growls while pointing to the dojo down the hallway. Oh, do we have a Tsundere on our hands? Do the Rom-com Gods think I'll fall for her aggressive personality? Well, too bad, as my dead eyes have a -100 affection modifier on girls (Source: Komachi) so there's no way I'm misunderstanding her intentions.

"Fine." I calmly respond and follow her towards the said dojo. Hmm, why was she so aggressive earlier? If I wasn't such a tough guy, my feelings could have been hurt(lol). Inside the training facility, there was an array of sports equipment, from kendo shinai to boxing gloves, which immediately confirmed my suspicions of the mystery girl's identity.

"Who are you? I've never seen someone so miserable at a gym before." She fires in my direction, and with that frigid gaze, a quick reply from me is desired. What's the deal here, Mystery Girl-san? Glaring us down, that's not how you try to coerce answers from a loner. You're so lucky that I am such a forgiving person, you know~.

"I'm a Chiba Central 3rd Year, Hikigaya Hachiman, Shinonono Houki." I quickly responded. Is this what it means to be intimidated? I don't like this; her cold gaze activated my self-preservation mechanism. I can't even be snarky in front of her.

"How do you know who I am?" Shinonono coldly questions. Ok, this is when I run away, and... why am I pulling out my phone, opening the news article acting as my proof, and moving said evidence in her line of sight. Dangit, brain, stop making so many rational decisions. You're making me look bad. I'm supposed to be a loose cannon who doesn't follow the rules, not a doormat.

"Why do you have this? {the article}" Recognizing the page, she stammers in apprehension. Dear reader, you may share the same shock as Shinonono here, so let me explain my thought process. A few days ago, while enjoying a quiet lunch, Komachi bursts onto the scene, frantically raving about a kendo article. On it was the piece on Shinonono and her victory, and my dear sister had the gall to shove it in my face and swoons, "Oh onii-chan, isn't she so pretty and cool for winning the tournament. I could rest easy as a younger sibling if someone as captivating as her paired with the uninteresting and lazy loner you are but don't worry, I'll support you no matter what happens with your love life. That must have been worth a lot of points." Poor, poor Komachi, if you could only see me now, talking to the girl of your aspirations.

"The newspaper," I replied while blankly staring at her for added effect.

"Who reads the newspaper?" Again stated in disbelief.

"Apparently, my sister. Anyways what do I, have in desiring your attention." Aw snap, my speech stats are off the charts today. I almost sound normal (read: riajuu). Self-deprecating jokes aside, this conversation has been going on for a long time, and I am starting to get nervous. Ignoring her rough personality Shinonono-san seems to be a relatively attractive person, and my experiences with her type never end well for the loner involved...

"Oh yes, be my punching bag for the break Hikigaya-san." Wait, was that a demand I just heard? Too bad for you, Shinonono-san Japan is a free country. Why would I bend myself to your will?

"And if I refuse?" My response is short as I attempted to turn around and exit this undesirable conversation. Come on, "Stealth Hikki," don't fail me now.

*Cracks knuckles* "Who said I was asking." Somehow Shinonono-san teleported behind me with a shinai pointing at my chest. Scary. Tsunderes are very scary. *sigh* It looks like I really cannot escape the steel floor, after all.

Chapter End

Author's Note- Well was it good? Amazing? Awful? If you have any opinion on the most recent update, Infinite Loner as a grander concept, or just me in general, write a Review. I would honestly appreciate any reader insight, so I can improve as an author and make this story the best it can be. Like reading Infinite Loner and don't want to miss the next update, Follow the story. Appreciate what I've created, Favorite this, and make my day or share Infinite Loner with friends, family, coworkers, I don't care. I'll try to limit the self-promotion in the future, but I just want to expand the audience while my story's still hot and highly accessible... Ok, last week was a bit over-expressive, but this time we'll play it cool.

I've been Mayflower Productions, thank you for reading Infinite Loner, and... I'll catch you on the flipside.