Chapter 4: The Pieces Slowly Come Together

Foreword- Look at that like clockwork, another week passes, and there's a new installment of Infinite Loner. Today's foreword will be short since a lot of important story beats are hit in this chapter. I'm sorry if there hasn't been much "Humor" or "Adventure" in Infinite Loner, but I promise that sometime in the future the story's mood will turn around. Does it happen now? Who knows you'll just have to read what's down below to find out. Since I'm here I'll just say that the story is lurching ever closer to the first day of high school and the Prologue. I guess you could call Chapter 4, the origin story for our lonely IS pilot, but I won't give away anything more than that right now. Before I forget, I would like to thank all the wonderful people writing reviews, as they've given me the motivation to continue writing on such a regular schedule. Without further ado... Infinite Loner Chapter 4: Against His Wishes, Time Continues to Pass

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

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

"Who said I was asking?" And with her grave ultimatum, my free time instantly disappeared right before my eyes. Later that same day, I was forced to combat a mad Shinonono-san... let's just call her Pouki at this point (Hikigaya Translation: Poke + Houki= Pouki). It's fewer syllables and easier to pronounce, in her specialty of Kendo for a grueling three hours. When I was later walking home, every step felt like rolling on pins and needles after having all that exercise (read: me just running away from Pouki) forced down my throat, but that was the least of my problems. More pressing an issue was that I couldn't avoid her as there exists only one gym in a 20-minute radius and no treadmill= very edgy and angry Hachiman, leaving me subject to a new grueling routine.

The first few initial meetings continued in the same cat and mouse fashion until I got a shallow grasp on her form and made our sessions an actual competition. By the end of the break, I had grown into a semi-competent sparring partner and forced Pouki to at least try at 25%. If you want to look at it from another angle, I graduated from a doormat to a small speed bump over those weeks. Overall, the experience was a win-win, as she got her punching bag, and I received an emotional venting source and improved athletic ability with the only slight side-effect of having some nightmares for the next few years...

Case in point, one of our earlier sessions, me being the neophyte kendo player I am, tried to avoid Pouki's advances by dodging and pleading," Shinonono-san care to let up just a bit, please?"

She was having none of it with her roar of a reply, "Where are you going, Punchy-gaya? Aren't you a man, so step up for me to kill you!".

There were no heartfelt goodbyes between us, as I ran out of the gym as quickly as possible once the clock struck 5 P.M. I wonder if I will ever see her again in the future (really hoping that doesn't raise any flags)?

Soon after school returned in session, and I retook my mantel of class martyr once again. This time my emotions were firmly in check, and the Great Hikigaya Wall was finally erected, granting me the modifier of +100 defense against petty middle schoolers; they could humiliate me all they want, I won't feel a thing.

With all my immediate mental hiccups overcome, time continued to pass. Noticing that my middle school days wained in number, future high schools slowly became a concern. It was the final frontier and the last chance to reset my position on the social pyramid. The only requirement on my potential school list was exclusivity, as I wanted to be as far away from these "mouth-breathers" that masquerade as my classmates as possible. Sure, I don't outright hate them anymore since my anger is less toward individuals than to society (except for *redacted*, I still have mixed feelings about them) for promoting their abusive behavior. However, it does not discount that I need to see some fresh faces and revamp my image for the inevitable reality of corporate slavery. No matter how much I want to chase my dreams, the cubicle calls for me, and for now, I can't put down the phone.

Currently, Sobu High is the only place that meets my criteria with its challenging entrance exam and local prestige dissuading the riff-raff from attending. However, it's located in Chiba, which may lead to accidental encounters with former "peers" or my haunting past following me. After all, rumors travel a thousand kilometers an hour, or is it miles? Whatever, the semantics don't really matter. Sobu also has a connection to the locally prominent Yukinoshita family, with their eldest daughter chairing the recent cultural festivals. Why does that matter? I've heard some hushed murmurs about her younger sister, who's my agemate, and they worry me; she's torn her classmates to shreds, completely drained of all personality. Yes, I, the Monster of Logic and King of Loners, feel slightly apprehensive about a teenage girl... Stop laughing, as my thoughts are no joke, you know~. Do you not remember the whole honey-trap epidemic? I like who I am and don't want that to change any time soon.*sigh* No matter where I attend, my future education hangs in the balance, making it the perfect time for "Smart Hikki's" return.

Infinite Loner

*Insert generic studying montage here.*

Did you know that trying in school is actually hard? Gone are the days where I could lazily lounge in the middle percentage group academically, with tons of free time and sleep. Countless hours have now been spent hitting the books to reclaim my former genius in preparation for elite high school entrance exams. It was severely exhausting but not impossible, as, with a Top 5 ranking and sharp skills in most subjects, I stand ready for anything thrown my way... unless it's a math test, then I'm doomed. "What about the rest of the class: how are they taking this unexpected development?" you may ask, dear reader. The short answer is, they don't matter to me now. As earlier explained, my Hikigaya-Firewall is online, making me impervious to their antics. Try to call me a demeaning nickname; I'm conveniently not listening, sabotage my locker; I always carry all my belongings, the list goes on and on. And if they attempt the violent approach, my incredible "Sneak" skill activates. All this effort left no distractions in my way besides Orimoto trying to salvage our smoldering wreck of a relationship. But don't worry, that's why headphones were invented, ghosting past love interests.

Short tangent aside, after a ridiculously long studying session, I decided to enjoy some fresh air and go on a peaceful stroll around the neighborhood. It's nice to leave the house, provides a satisfying change of pace for the monologues.

Fifteen minutes in, and nothing caught my attention: anti-Hikigaya league personnel patrolling, aggressive wives, an overabundance of motivational billboards built by evil corporations, it all felt so predictable. I almost gave up and turned around from the boring scenery outside until I reached the local park. Sitting center stage on a large platform was a machine reminiscent of an angel or a medieval suit of armor, smooth design, pure white color, resting on one knee. It's one of those Infinite... Infinite... oh yeah, Infinite Stratos, or the big robot-mech, that's the bane of my existence. Like seriously, it's hard to go one day without seeing another story about how it revolutionized the world or saved millions of lives. I know it's an impressive feat of engineering, don't misunderstand, but last time I checked, Infinite Stratos, or IS for short, are expensive fashion statements for rich girls, not the next smartphone. If anything, IS directly contributed to the rise of "honey-trap syndrome," making it public enemy number one in my book.

If it never existed, I wouldn't be suffering those nightmares about them, and all the time we spent together. They fooled me into thinking that youth could be fulfilling and that riajuus were good people. I recognize the way Komachi slightly frowns at me every time she walks into a near-empty house; she's disappointed. Even mom and dad longingly sigh whenever their presence is brought up. They care more about Infinite Stratos and some near-strangers than their son. No wonder I was bullied after they left; everyone knew I was nothing without them. These days I'm just the shadow they left behind, a husk aimlessly wandering around. Sometimes walking down the street is enough to recall those memories where I... smiled and laughed alongside them. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it...

Well, that was weird, uh...Looking at the fancy display, I could only ask why it was here? This was a random venue with no apparent connections to IS's... unless the nearby staff overseeing the machine were looking for someone, possibly the next great pilot... That's ridiculous. There's no way something like that can happen, right? It's probably some corruption scheme by a local politician, laundering funds generated by visitors.

Also, how come people are lining up to touch it like it's some tourist attraction? Ok, I know why... IT'S A GIANT ROBOT! I may be cynical and generally pessimistic, but deep down, my inner hot-blooded child cried out in joy at the massive machine, so I immediately lined up to take a picture with it to brag to Komachi. This opportunity will finally tip the scales of the Hachiman to Komachi point exchange rate. I've been struggling for the longest time to close the deficit.

Once in contact with the IS, I snapped a few selfies before giving it a light pat with my right hand to feel its exterior, as I've always wondered what material they were made of; it's so large yet flies through the air with such precision. There's no harm in the effort either as the machine was designed only for women and should draw no response from me...

"Boom!" My mind disconnected from reality once my hand grazed the machine's surface. I was immediately flung onto a highway filled with billboards showing countless moments in human history: the Pyramids, the Roman Empire, the Unification of Japan, the World Wars, the Space Race, the birth of Georgia Max, and a million others flashed before my eyes. The sequence was so fast that I could barely make out any specific moment and felt as if my brain would explode from the sensory overload.

However, everything slowed down, and I was teleported to a movie theater, sitting front row before the sliver screen. Weird, this kind of reminds me of when I watched the Precure Movie on my 13th birthday since everyone, including Komachi, was so busy that I had to watch it alone. When I bought my ticket, the clerk laughed at me, but I didn't pay too much attention to it. I ended up having a good time regardless.

I couldn't even register the strangeness of my location for long as the lights soon dimmed, and the film began. "The Endless Nightmare," was probably its name as the narrator began speaking, and just hearing it left me unnerved. The movie continued, and its contents hit a little too close to home, "Here we have our protagonist, Hikigaya Hachiman, the most useless man to ever exist." it was a retelling of my miserable existence from the beginning. "His misfortune started shortly after conception, as his parents hoping for a daughter were immensely disappointed when they found out that their first child was going to be a boy. Relatives were so confident in the expecting child's gender that at the baby shower, everyone brought gifts for an infant girl, forcing the couple to awkwardly accept the offerings for a child they didn't have." Wait how do they know about that memory, I only learned about it from one of their late drunk musings when I was 10 and was pouring myself a glass of water.

"Once the child was born, his poor luck seemed to continue, as work began drowning the young couple, limiting the time they could spend with their baby boy." This has to be a prank, right? I'm definitely not being subjected to an intervention right now. Where's the hidden camera?

"And to make his pitiful nature even more apparent, just when their hours calmed down, and they could finally attend to Hachiman, a younger sister was born, and she dominated all the parental care and attention. Even while reading the script, I can't believe someone this pathetic even exists, as so far he's been nothing but a drain on his family." Ok, just because you sound like a young girl, narrator-san, I'll maintain my composure. You should be honored that I have such strong self-control, you know~?

"School proved to be just as miserable for the young Hachiman. The lack of guidance from his parents left the boy incredibly standoffish and meek compared to his outgoing and friendly little sister. His classmates rightfully ignored Hachiman for his passive personality and left the boy to his own devices. He spent countless days in elementary school cleaning the blackboard alone after everyone else left since he could not speak up for himself." Maybe I was wrong about my earlier assessment of the narrator, and they're actually a loli hag because no normal little girl would have this much insight into my life. It's almost like someone made my nightmares into a movie to torture me...

"Or working to the bone for a project whose group members shoved down his throat or naively believing that friendships lasted a lifetime." Do you want to take this outside?! I don't care who you are, only I can demean Hikigaya Hachiman, and no one else. The narrator, presumably a young girl, continued to read all my deepest memories in excruciating detail, and I was forced to endure it, being chained into my seat.

"I'm not like that anymore. Those moments never bothered me. I became a loner by choice, not chance!" I wanted to yell and argue in response to her words, but I had no control over my body and could only sit idle. The juxtaposition between the narrator's angelic voice and the dark scenes displayed struck a chord within me, and I felt something strange bubble to the surface... misery, and despair. I thought after all these months, I would never cry again, but "The Endless Nightmare" lived up to its name, and my face felt flustered.

"And you wouldn't believe what someone so socially inept would do... try confessing to a girl he barely knew. It's hilarious! So what did he say? Let's see... I like you, please..." The experience pushed my psyche to its breaking point and almost shattered the illusion of confidence I gained in the past year once it hit the climax with the confession, but just before those doomed words could deal the final blow... I returned to reality speechless and dazed. What happened? That wasn't the usual monologue.

"How bizarre, the boy is making it flash." A passerby nonchalantly notes. Wait, aren't men unable to do anything with an IS. All the online forums clowned how this fact makes a total war between the sexes irrelevant, yet why is this machine emitting a soft blue glow and gentle hum at my touch? This has to be a mistake or hallucination, something reserved to the realm of fiction. I yanked my hand off the IS and stared at it in shock. I'm not the Imagine Breaker; I cannot shatter the world's illusions. Hoping my action was a rare irregularity, I cautiously replaced my hand on the machine and found the same response... activity. It looks like I just walked into "generic-anime situation #420: able to use the special tool when others can't," *sigh* so much for uneventful high school life...

Wait, if an IS can react to a person, does that mean... That tin can ripped the bandage off my most sensitive memories, reopened those wounds, and had the gall to have a little girl do it. Now out of principle, I should deny any connection I could have to that suit of armor. Even though I don't usually show it, I have pride, you know~? I can only take so much abuse before I just walk away from a situation.

"Holy Mackarel! He's really doing it. Orimura-sensei, get over here! " One of the "guards?" or "handlers?" of the IS (is that green hair?) exclaims in shock. Oh no, I have a bad feeling about this "Orimura-sensei" person, after especially seeing the usage of the "Sensei" honorific, since I only know one person worthy of that much respect... I should leave.

"Well, well, well., it looks like the fish-eyed brat was hiding a special skill from me. How could you do such a cruel thing to Nee-san." I turned around to see who used that unflattering nickname, and my earlier fears were confirmed. The person behind me was most definitely the long raven-haired, cold-gazed, world-famous IS-pilot Brunhilde, Orimura Chifuyu, aka the Idiot's scary older sister. Just being in her presence, I could feel her subtle air of dominance once again suffocate me. Geez, I'm almost starting to feel bad for him in dealing with this "pressure" every day of his life. The keyword being Almost. I can only hold so much sympathy for riajuus, after all. Moving on, as an extensive media connoisseur, I have a good idea of what she is just about to tell me, as I've seen this scenario hundreds of times before in my anime and light novels.

Rolling my eyes, I drone, "Let me guess, is what I'm currently doing such a big deal that I'm going to be experimented on if I do not comply with your upcoming request? Or am I being drafted into the military, fighting aliens invading the planet?" Or is it the wild card, gets hit by a motor vehicle and sent to another world with my new talent as a "perk" or *gasp* "cheat." Uh, I couldn't stand that anime, as the protagonist barely developed or faced any real challenges.

Orimura-nee-san looked incredibly amused at my statement before continuing in her usual stoic manner," It seems that you're still quick on the uptake, unlike someone else, so I'll cut to the chase. I hear you've been having school problems over the past year." How do you know that? I recently purchased a new phone and accidentally (read: intentionally) forgot to transfer any phone numbers. Are you an esper? "Accept my offer, and I can get you far away from your dreaded "riajuu" for 3 whole years." That would be the dream, complete isolation from the Chiba high school population. Ok, now that may have caught my attention, but I'm no simple man. Any unbelievable offer has to contain some sort of caveat.

"The catch?"

"So fish-eyed brat, ever heard of a place called IS Academy?" Hmm, a school for IS pilots, so it's full of rich and obnoxious teenage girls... The demographic that hates my guts the most. That sounds like a nightmare, something I must avoid at all costs.

Ignoring the offensive nickname, I answered, "No, and I don't think I'm interested in such an offer." I'll just take my chances and go to Sobu. I've had enough psychological torture for one lifetime.

Knowing the consequences of accepting Orimura-nee-san's offer, I attempted to walk away from the IS pavilion, but, "Where do you think you're going, brat?" I was stopped before I could move an inch.

"Uh, the restroom?" I hesitantly replied.

"Likely story." And with that glare, my "uneventful trainwreck" third year of middle school gained momentum. I don't think this one's going to end well, either.

Chapter End

Author's Note- Hello there, I'm, Mayflower Productions, author of Infinite Loner here to deliver a short message. Do you like the story, want to write feedback, or receive immediate updates to new uploads? Like, favorite, or write a review for Infinite Loner to give suggestions on possible future plot points, criticize my work, or stroke my ego by giving me words of praise. Interested in any future works of mine (I'm won't just be a one-hit-wonder, you know~?) do the same for my profile as Mayflower Productions. If you've made it all the way down here, I'd like to sincerely thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to read the mad ravings of someone like me. Until next time, I'll catch you on the flipside.