Chapter 14: Like a Stone, His Presence Creates Ripples
Foreword- First things first, chapter 13 was undoubtedly a mess. I tried to make Infinite Loner something it wasn't and it ended up being such a painful experience. Thank you to everyone who pointed that out in the reviews and they motivated me to give the current update a bit more time to develop. Seeing as I struggled to write Hikigaya Hachiman, he isn't the main character today, but our other male protagonist... you know him, quite a few can't stand him, Orimura Ichika! I know he's had moments in this story before, but not one without the fish-eyed loner, so here we are. In other news, we're approaching 100 reviews, and it is incredible to see so many leave their thoughts about my work. As for my other story, it will get updated once I find a direction I want to take it, as right now it's in limbo. Remember my earlier warning about inconsistent updating, well I would take it a lot more seriously past this point, as chapter 15 is in development hell (I'll explain later). Also, I wrote an omake this time, so be on the lookout for it. Now on with the story- Infinite Loner Chapter 14: Like a Stone, His Presence Creates Ripples.
Infinite Loner- POV shift, line break "I regret nothing!"- Dialogue
Disclaimer: I do not own Oregairu, Infinite Stratos, or any other intellectual properties that may appear in this story. Please don't sue me.
Interlude: Orimura Ichika Finds His Resolve
The past few days have been a bit hectic, as a slew of changes flashed right before my eyes. First, my best friend and intelligent roommate, Hikigaya Hachiman, moved out of Room 1025. We developed such a peaceful environment without worrying about the prying eyes of our classmates. I don't necessarily relish perpetual silence like the loner, but I have at least come to respect his opinions and way of thinking. The girls at IS Academy are just relentless. I let my guard down for one moment, and I get swept away whether by Houki, Cecilia, Rin, or the long list of my passionate "fans" (it's so weird how popular I am).
More importantly, how am I going to pass my classes now? Besides math, Hachiman's help kept my grades narrowly above water. You wouldn't think it, but he's surprisingly good at explaining the intricate material of the curriculum. I really want to avoid failing, so I won't have to deal with Chifuyu-nee's wrath since she's always paid close attention to my scores. Even when across the world, she gave me hell about them. I know we don't have the best relationship, but why are you unusually keen on my grades, sis? I'm so glad that Chifuyu-nee can't hear my thoughts right now. She would kill me if she heard me referring to her so informally.
Speaking of her past, Hachiman's new bunkmate, Laura Bodewig, is kind of a basket-case, who's apparently after my head for some undisclosed reason. It might be about Chifuyu-nee's short deployment to Germany after the incident, but I'm not so sure. She never talks about it, no matter how much I ask. However, I'm convinced that my new classmate is rude as every time I show her some act of courtesy, she just spits in disgust and walks away. "Hey Bodewig, how's it going?"
"Get away from me, you waste of oxygen."
"Oh, okay..."
"Come on, dog, let's get moving."
"Please don't call me that."
It's like I'm nothing more than trash in her eyes which is frustrating. I've worked to the bone to get where I am, and none of it matters to her. Is it because of me living in Hachiman's shadow? I wonder?
Moving on, my new roommate, Charles Dunois, is the kindest person I've met in high school. He's calm and knowledgeable, often helping me with IS and general academic material. Sure, I was worried about my floundering grades, but with Charles's assistance, I should be fine. We quickly became fast friends, as I was glad to have a male pilot that wasn't a stick in the mud like Hachiman; Dunois gave me hope for a somewhat uneventful high school career, unlike my turbulent past. Sadly, IS Academy doesn't hold male pilots very highly, so my fleeting dreams were dashed. Last night when I wanted to give my showering roommate shampoo, reality hit. You wouldn't believe it, but Charles was actually a girl masquerading as a man for her father's business. I was shocked to learn the circumstances behind her appearance...
Infinite Loner
"Why did you have to accept Charles... or should I say Charlotte in this case?" I skeptically question my French roommate.
"Our company's finances have taken a hit, as with the introduction of more third-generation IS's, such as the Schwarzen Regen or Tempesta, the Dunois Corporation's stagnation becomes more apparent with our outdated Rapheal Revive model. We spent all our funds marketing the design and not building a successor model. My father's main goal was to generate traction for our brand by housing the world's third male IS pilot in an attempt to retain custody of our valuable IS production rights. I was also instructed to gain blackmail on potential points of interest, including you, Rin, and Cecilla, among others, as additional leverage. I'm sorry for deceiving you this entire time, but since my identity has been compromised, I'll probably be recalled." He... She finally explains with a bitter smile lining her face. We start knowing each other, and now we're on the verge of a farewell. It's just like that time ("Don't feel so down, maybe *redacted* wasn't ready for a relationship.") and I know what occurred as a result ("When it comes to losing, I'm the strongest."). They needed my help so much, but I was nowhere to be seen.
"No, you don't have to give up so soon, Charlotte," I declared, motivated to find a solution. I need to do something; I can not repeat the past. How could I call myself a man if I didn't exhaust every available option?
"What do you mean?" Her face slightly brightened at my words, her amethyst eyes staring at me expectantly. Now that I've noticed, Charlotte is quite the looker; her long, golden-blonde hair shines like the sun, so much so that I almost...
Come on, Ichika, your classmate needs your help! This is the time for action! Now the question is, how would Chifuyu-nee, and especially my former roommate, solve this; they're the craftiest people I know... Hold on, Hachiman, studying... I've got it.
"According to the IS Academy Textbook, Page 100, Clause 15, "While attending, students are independent entities, not beholden to any outside organizations." So you don't have to go anywhere, for at least the next 3 years." I took out the book and found the specific section with little difficulty.
"I never thought you would remember something so obscure. You always said studies were never your specialty."
"Well, thanks to Hachiman, I've learned a thing or two about this school, and once I get something, I never forget it."
"Oh, him, Hikigaya Hachiman..." Once she said his name, her face saddened, and she gently sighed.
"What's wrong, Charlotte?" I asked. Whenever I brought up Hachiman, my French classmate always acted this way. Is she on bad terms with him? Actually, who isn't? He barely tolerates my presence and ignores everyone else unless he's forced to care.
"I just remembered the reason why I was deployed, the Undefeated Champion and its mysterious one-off ability. My father couldn't stop talking about it when he saw the clip and its frenetic pace, and I felt the same until I saw the whole fight. My heart ached as I saw him take blow after blow from that intruder without any hesitation, fighting until the brink of death. It was unsightly to watch Hikigaya-san act so recklessly."
"Yeah, even I never got used to that part of him, always taking matters into his own hands, never reaching out to others, all in pursuit of his grand master plan. Just thinking about it grinds my gears." I interjected, also upset about Hachiman's behavior. The signs were always there; he never spoke up for himself and took on all the crazy requests our classmates had of him, buying them lunch, cleaning the classroom alone, sharing his homework answers for no reward, the list goes on and on. Rin and I tried to help, but he had the same excuse prepared, "Don't worry, I'm not lonely, everything's fine. I like doing things this way.". I thought everything was fine with his insistence, but I was horribly wrong. And now he's slipped out of my grasp.
"You're so kind, Ichika..." Charlotte's mood again raised at my words, and she warmly smiled with a slight blush dusting her face. "As much I despised his actions, seemingly sacrificing himself for victory, I'm grateful to Hikigaya-san. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be able to attend IS Academy and meet people like you, Ichika." She fondly remarks, and I couldn't help but stare into her eyes. It's like I was being pulled into high tide, unable to escape. I felt our faces grow closer and closer, hearts beating faster, until...
"Growl." My stomach broke the silence, and I immediately regained my focus. Woah, what just happened? People have thanked me before, but nothing like this we almost... almost kissed.
Hold on, this reminds me of something... Oh, I know, I raised a flag, just like the ones in Hachiman's games...
Infinite Loner
"Why are you always going to the library, Hachiman? It's a game, so you don't need to study."
"Do you seriously have no idea of what I'm doing?"
"Yeah."
"This is why idiots like you are hopeless... *sigh* Ichika, you need to understand that in visual novels, there are affection meters that track the love interest's opinion of the protagonist. I guess you could correlate it to a super meter in fighting games. Fulfilling specific objectives that are meaningful to them raises the reading. For example, the cool beauty likes to spend time alone reading, so she'll notice if I go there to do the same. Using the same analogy to something like Infinite Combat, chaining successful combos with the Rafael Revive. Over time we'll form a connection over our shared preferences, furthering the route along until the climax hits..."
"So what happens then?"
"I was just about to explain before you interrupted me."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Ahem. Once there, the relationship hits critical mass."
"And you activate the super. I think I get it now."
"Looks like you're not as hopeless as I thought. Good job, Ichika, for exceeding the rock-bottom expectations I hold of you. Basically, a kiss or some other intimate expression railroads the playthrough, locking any progress with other heroines until a later scene, unless you're going for..."
"Spare me the lecture Hachiman, we both know that it won't do me any good. So why do you know so much about these "dating simulators"? I always thought that puzzle games were more your speed?"
"Well, you see, being a devoted member of the anti-riajuu league, I shied away from conventional forms of social activity. What good does "hanging out" at the mall do, besides wasting valuable time and money. Thanks to Zai- I mean a nameless figure, I was introduced to dating sims."
"Are you planning on confessing to someone?"
"I play less so for a romantic longing, but more a desire to learn about others so someday I could chase after that elusive gen... I mean, I like laughing at the dense protagonist, who doesn't realize multiple women are falling for him. It reminds me how the loner is superior to the pitiful riajuu in every way... I'm not lonely in the slightest. Hah, hah, hah."
Infinite Loner
I can't believe Charlotte's father; manipulating his own daughter like a tool. Everyone is entitled to live their lives how they please, no matter who orders them. Even I would rebel against Chifuyu-nee if she were tyrannical, however unlikely that may be.
And that's only the tip of the iceberg for my responsibilities in hiding my roommate's secret identity. Now I have to fight with "Charles" in the upcoming tournament held at the end of the month. I feared that someone would find out her hidden identity if I didn't act. We could potentially be squaring off against Hachiman and the sinister Laura Bodewig.
You'd think I would be conflicted about fighting my best friend, but I feel the opposite. I'm dying to dive in headfirst, clashing with my male classmate. Time and time again, Hachiman has surpassed me academically and now tactically in the Infinite Stratos. I over-rely on him to keep my grades steady and explain most of the intricate IS material. For crying out loud, he maintains a perfect record in his fights.
More importantly, it lately feels like Hikigaya is pulling away from society, ignoring anyone who attempts to chat with him. His occasional replies to others became shorter, his words growing colder. I can almost recognize the lonely boy I met all those years ago, locked in his own little world...
Infinite Loner
I've finally made it. I am now in middle school, at a new school, no less. The perfect opportunity to start afresh. Free of any ties to the Mondo Grosso incident. Maybe this will finally be the year where people see me as Orimura Ichika and not the little brother of the larger-than-life Brunhilde...
Introductions during lunch were a solid start, as a notably large crowd of people flocked my way once the bell rang. I should feel happy to be popular with the class, but I couldn't help but sigh at my classmate's words. "Aren't you the kid brother of Brunhilde?"
"How does it feel to have such a strong older sister?"
"Have you ever flown in an Infinite Stratos before?" And the list of questions continues, but none are worth mentioning. I'm glad that people talk about Nee-san, but why does it lead every conversation? It's like no one even cares about Orimura Ichika. Is there anyone out there willing to see me as a person and not a meal ticket? I scanned across the classroom with nothing interesting catching my eye except for a small group in the back. It's two girls trying to talk to a reclusive boy with messy raven-colored hair... Wait, I recognize one of them, as it's Rin and Orimoto-san, if I remember correctly. Maybe this mystery guy is different from everyone else.
"How's it going, everyone." I cheerfully greet the trio.
"Oh, it's you, Ichika. Listen to this, this guy, Hikitani, doesn't even know what an Infinite Stratos is. How crazy is that?" Rin passionately explains.
"Wow, is that true, Hikitani?" I add out of disbelief. How is it possible for someone to overlook IS, the most publicized technological advancement of the past decade? If that's true, then he probably may not recognize my sister and all her fame.
"E-excuse me, my name is Hikigaya Hachiman, not Hikitani, so stop calling me that, and yes, I don't recognize those flying robots or this Brunhilde person. I don't necessarily enjoy watching the news or following celebrities. It brings the worse out of people." Hikigaya sheepishly replied. The boy acts so hesitantly and reeks of social incompetence. I almost feel bad for making him feel so nervous, but I can't hide my optimism. Hikigaya could be the first friend in a long time to treat me with genuine respect and not awe for my family name. Sure there's Dan and Kazuma, but what's wrong with expanding our group? The more, the merrier, I say.
"So Hikigaya, care to have lunch with us?"
"... I would love to accept the offer, but I don't think so. It would only bother everyone else, so I'll be eating on the rooftop. Excuse me." The quiet boy slowly exits the classroom. Judging from the multiple sighs of relief from his exit, Hikigaya is a loner. It makes perfect sense why everyone avoided talking to him, and his social skills were so rusty. Now that I've taken a closer look at him, his eyes looked murky, like they're being drained of life. What happened to him in elementary school, for him to end up so depressing...
Infinite Loner
I can see the writing on the wall. Hikigaya is relapsing back into isolation. We made so much progress over these few months, chipping away at his walls; he smiled just the other day and laughed at my joke. I can't even remember the last time he did such a thing. Now it's all slipping away unless... it was all an act. Hachiman's "rehabilitation" was nothing more than a ruse, the newest of his plots. But that can't be the case, right? What does he stand to gain from pushing the world away? I may not enjoy all of IS Academy's quirks, but I can at least call each day an adventure. Yet he wants none of it? Hmm, what really happened to him in middle school after I left? It always centers back to that question. Maybe I should ask Orimoto some time?
Regardless, when Hachiman retreats inward, his pace quickens, and he moves further out of reach, like a car in the distance. Blink, and he'll be gone, vanishing without a trace. Despite his laziness, his IS skills have subtly grown sharper and strategy refined since the Class Rep Cup. I've seen him occasionally practicing after school alone. With enough motivation, he could advance into the territory of IS genius and possibly claim the crown of the next Brunhilde for himself, banishing me to obscurity. I know that Hachiman and working pair as well as oil and fire, but with Orimura-sensei around, anything is possible. Not even the King of Loners can stand against the towering Brunhilde. If I want to keep up, training is now my top priority. The tournament was just around the corner, after all.
It seems that I'm not the only one who agrees, as, after class, Arena 5 was packed with students honing their craft.
"Come on, Cecilia, we have to speed up our training to catch up with him!" I heard Rin exclaim from the opposite side of the arena. She was engaged in a fierce firefight with Blue Tears, Ryuuhou's beam clashing against the BT drones.
"Okay, Rin, let's pick up the place so we can kick that uncultured loner off his moral high horse." Just watching their beam struggle made me feel a little jealous. I'm glad to have Byakushiki, but why can't I have any long-range armaments? In any case, it's incredible to see how strong his gravity is. Here are two incredibly prideful pilots working together to improve when just a few days ago, they were at each other's throats. For what reason, I don't know, but the change is still dramatic. It's almost like he's the engine driving the car of IS Academy forward. I wonder if I could have such an impact on others someday.
"Kanzashi, let's prove to them that personal machines don't necessarily determine strength."
"I see. It makes sense to push myself to know the limits of the frame." I noticed an unlikely pairing also sparing, Houki and the mysterious Kanzashi, a member of the Detective Club. I don't know too much about her since she doesn't have the rosiest opinion of me, for unknown reasons. Whenever I ask Hachiman about it, he just laughs, never giving me an answer, "Oh, you're confused why Sarashiki doesn't like you? Ha, ha, ha! I can't believe I would see the day when the Harem Protagonist is ignored." This strange pairing was only possible since the loner met Kanzashi, so I'm surprised he doesn't know more...
Now that I think about it, both women usually act seriously, use generic IS models, and both regularly talk to Hikigaya, so maybe they make sense as a team... On second thought, "Do not misunderstand, Ichika; I am not friends with the gorilla, nor have plans of changing that fact anytime soon. Right now, she's only pretending to treat me kindly, whether it be occasionally making me lunch or talking to me while in the arena; it's all a ruse. The moment I let my guard down, the monster hiding under the surface will emerge." Nah, I can't see a better pair than the two of them. Rin and Cecilia always argue whenever they crash into each other, I slow down Charles by making them explain everything about ranged weaponry, and Hachiman always complains about his German partner.
Speaking of him, the "Infinite Loner" was training by weaving through fire from his crazed partner, "Come on, Bodewig, slow down! I never signed up for this. My rights are being infringed. Where is my lawyer?" He complained.
Heh, so much for that "to work is to lose" mantra.
"Shut up, Ichika." How could he even hear me? I'm on the other side of the arena. Is Hachiman an esper?
"No, it's because you're easier to read than a book." He called from his compromised position. Even under pressure, Hikigaya Hachiman finds the time to be snarky.
"Don't talk to that filth, Hachiman, or my AIC will connect!", Bodewig passionately replies while belittling my presence. If I could just understand the rationale behind her hatred, her harsh words wouldn't sting so deep, but I currently did not have such a luxury.
"Woah! You almost had me there, soldier."
"Ichika, if you don't move soon, we won't have any room to train." I snapped out of thoughts from Charles's words.
With so much excitement whirling around, I needed to act. If I'm not careful, Hikigaya will just escape my grasp and leave me in the dirt; he's already done so much this year: stand up against a haughty National Representative, win his first IS fight, have the highest academic averages, and take out an unmanned machine, all singlehandedly. What have I done... nothing, just following whatever he's taught me and not thinking for myself. I failed to reach him once before and won't do so again. I can't stay behind Hachiman forever, so it's time to move!
"Yeah, let's get started."
Infinite Loner
Interlude: Laura Bodewig Fails to Understand
I despise the fraud of an educational institution known as "IS Academy." All of the students here lack urgency or seriousness, seen on the training grounds back home. They treat the Infinite Stratos as a nifty fashion statement instead of the revolutionary weapon that it is.
They didn't spend their entire childhood as a nameless soldier raised by the military, constantly criticized as inadequate. Suffered a non-anesthetized implant of micro-machines into their eye to improve their poor IS compatibility. Experienced the pain of losing their idol and hero prematurely, for some brat who never worked a day in his life... Calm down, Laura. These ingrates are not worth the effort of complaining.
Sure, my "classmates" are finally approximating human beings by flooding the training arenas for the upcoming competition, but it all feels bittersweet.
"Hey, did you hear? Hikigaya-kun was seen with Mio-senpai at the infirmary. Do you think the two are dating?"
"No, I'm more of the opinion that he's secretly seeing Sarashiki since the two of them are so similar, being loners and all." How can they engage in idle chit-chat about vapid topics like r-relationships while fighting? Love serves no place on the battlefield and is just disgraceful for a warrior. Just thinking about those trivialities sours my mood, especially when paired with him, but I don't know why? He's nothing more than a dog, the means to an end, a fri...
No matter, I have just the distraction for stray thoughts like that, "Move faster, Hachiman, or the next blast will hit you!" I savagely roared at my tournament partner.
"Uh... Can we finally take a break? We've been at this for the past hour, and overexertion is a killer, you know~?" The loner tiredly panted. Hikigaya Hachiman, also known as the weakest First Year, stands as the closest student at IS Academy to deserving my respect. He poses a significant challenge when he focuses on combat, outplaying my up-to-date IS on multiple occasions. Hikigaya's gift is not necessarily an excellent machine but masterful intellect and planning. He thinks quickly on his feet, constantly adjusting his approach to gain the advantage, never letting his guard down when locked in. Whenever I think he's cornered, the unexpected happens; a stray dagger strikes the field, creating dust, or he momentarily fazes out of view, evading my AIC; the list goes on and on.
Even now, while immaturely whining, he schemes for an opening, firing arrows at my joints, never losing a focused expression. "I didn't think you would see that one coming, soldier. I thought the act would catch you off balance." Hachiman fights with a sense of desperation that feels familiar, attempting to blind or take cheap shots at his opponent...
Too familiar, the subtle yet furious jabs, the occasional burst of speed into an attack, and unpredictable nature all match one other person, Instructor... His disposition on the field also faithfully resembles her, stoic yet subtly confident. It perfectly explains why I can't crush him with brute force and the sense of nostalgia I feel every time we trade blows. Hikigaya is a time capsule to the days I spent with Instructor: a chance to prove the supremacy of might and the futility of emotions, now that's what the loner is best at.
However, my shallow praise quickly drops off, with his personality outside of the ring leaving much to be desired. He sleeps through most of his classes yet somehow stands as a top student.
"Ok, everyone, we're now going to be talking about weapons load-outs. Since we have already looked at mass production models, today's focus is a personal IS. However, almost all potential examples are locked behind legal red-tape, besides one exception, the Undefeated Champion. Instead of me rambling about it, how about its pilot, Hikigaya-kun, volunteers..."
"Zzz...Zzz...Zzz..."
"If you do not wake up right now, it's extra laps Hikigaya, five hundred of them."
"...I'm awake, Sensei. Don't worry, I was not sleeping but only resting my eyes on my desk, preparing for this moment. Where was I... The Undefeated Champion is equipped with a pair of short-range weapons, call them daggers or throwing knives, that can take the battle up close and personal. They can be quickly produced internally and spammed out using the onboard 3-D printer to create distance in an unfavorable engagement, but it costs precious shield energy. Similar to the Byakushiki, I suffer from poor fuel consumption, making the mass deployment of weapons a rare move. Right now, I can only maintain two daggers at maximum efficiency, but I'm working on increasing that number. The Undefeated Champion also carries a collapsable longbow, extending potential attack range. I would explain more, but I like keeping a few cards close to my chest; all I will say is that the bow requires focus to hit anything but can deliver "shocking" results when it does. Overall, most pilots would consider this selection weak, lacking the Byakushiki's Absolute Defence piercing Yukihira Nigata or Shenlong's, Ryuuhou for large, pressurized blasts, but I see it as an advantage. I have a more flexible weapons loadout than them, making it harder for opponents to plan against. The low profile of the bows and daggers promote blitzing as opponents often pay too much attention watching the pilot and not their tools. Since they're also conventional weapons, IS shielding doesn't really faze them, making them ideal for dispatching defensively focused models, like the Iron Maiden... There, I talked about the Undefeated Champion, much more than I intended, mind you. Are you happy now, Sensei?"
"Alright, Hikigaya, your explanation suffices."
"Well, if you'll excuse me... Zzz..."
Infinite Loner
The loner moves with incredible lethargy everywhere he goes but is surprisingly quick on the track.
[Flashback]
"Like seriously, Hachi-kun, how do you even function at that speed? Not even in middle school were you this sluggish, dragging each foot like it's made of lead. My grandmother moves faster than you. As your best friend, I'm honestly concerned that you may fail the physical."
"Well, for your information, I am not slow, just highly energy efficient. What's the point in whizzing around like you do when it unnecessarily wastes calories. I like conserving my strength for when it matters. Also, we're not friends..."
Hikigaya Hachiman 100 meter dash: 15 seconds (School Record)
"I don't know whether to feel genuinely impressed at your athletic ability or horrified at how much progress you've made in only a few years."
"Well, Rin, it's as they say: with enough spite, anything is possible."
"Hey, what does that mean, Hachi-kun?"
"Exactly what I implied."
[Flashback End]
He actively avoids any after-school polishing of his skills and instead reads his gaudy picture books but demonstrates excellent flying ability during battle practice.
[Flashback]
"Hachiman, what are you doing? There's mandatory practice after school today, and everyone is waiting for you."
"I can't believe the madman did it... an entire minotaur, destroyed, all just to save his Sensei. He has to level up now, right?"
"Are you even listening, or are you too absorbed into your book?"
"... Huh, what are you doing here, the brutish gorilla? The last time I checked, today's not a whipping... I mean training session, and if it was, our prior agreement is null and void. If you could kindly spare me the honor of leaving, I would highly appreciate the gesture."
"News flash, Hachiman, Orimura-sensei announced an after-school practice this morning, which you probably slept through, so get up and head to the locker room already. Today you're demonstrating basic flying maneuvers with Cecilia."
"No, I'm reading my favorite light novel, and to move is work, and as you know, to work is to lose. Instead, how about you take Frau Trigger-Happy over there as a substitute and leave. She'd love to cement her supremacy over the "lesser specimens" that are our classmates."
"Don't treat me as a joke, Hikigaya Hachiman, or you'll regret it."
"Yeah, I don't listen to the threats of a muscle-brained soldier, so..."
"Grr..."
"Oh, Hachiman, how cocky we've gotten. I think someone's forgotten about my title and the precious memories we've spent together. *cracks knuckles*.".
"You know what, I was having a nice day today until you came along. I'll get up, but I'm doing this for me and not you. Remember that."...
"Well, look who it is, the elusive Hikigaya-kun. I thought you were above such depravities of "practice" and "cooperating with classmates," or did you have a momentary change of heart." The harlot- I mean pompous pilot questioned the loner after he suited up, demonstrating a level of intimacy with his rationale.
"I really don't want to be here, ojou-san, and only are because I don't have any gorilla tranquilizer on me. Please keep your pompous attitude away from me."
"No witty remarks about the futility of labor or the exploitive character of adolescent society?"
"..."
"What about the deceiving nature of kind-hearted maidens or your undying affection for that sickeningly sweet caffeinated beverage."
"Yamada-sensei." He stated with a voice devoid of its usual sarcasm or apathy.
"Yes... what is it, Hikigaya-kun?" The assistant teacher was startled by his uncharacteristic behavior. She almost leaped back in shock.
"Launch the drill." It appears that he's actually serious about training for once. His eyes maintained a razor-sharp edge, not dissimilar to the Instructor.
"..."
"Whoosh!"
"And as you can see, class, Hikigaya-kun maintains a steady speed as he ascends for maximum stability..."
"It's rare to see Hikigaya act so professionally. What did you do to him, Shinonono?" Even Instructor understood the odd nature of his current disposition. Hikigaya Hachiman was fully cooperating with practice today and carried himself differently: crisper, faster, and simply calmer than usual.
"I don't know what came over him... It's like he suddenly grew a spine." She stood confused while watching the pilot, her words coming out blankly.
"Interesting..."
"Now notice how he follows Alcott's lead in executing the slow descend towards the ground; his face is notably focused. Remember, the worst mistake you can make while flying is to feel nervous, as any emotional fluctuations translate into losing control of the IS and becoming vulnerable to attack. Act, maybe that's a bit too extreme, subtly emulate our male pilot over there, and you'll be fine." Even to an elite pilot like myself, all his moves looked effortless, like he was only going through the motions and nothing more. I need to figure out how that witch- I mean, my Japanese classmate made him act this way. My plans would finally move to the next phase if it happened.
"Enough is enough. You didn't suffer through all that abuse to be treated like a doormat. Ichika may have accepted that fate, but you won't. It's time to take a stand! But for now, I want to read my light novel. I want to read my light novel, but they won't let me unless I play along as their doll. I want to read my light novel."
[Flashback End]
He exudes an aura of cynicism and loneliness, yet he has that unsettling pack of students following him.
[Flashback]
"What's even the point in even practicing for this upcoming tournament? We, students, are nothing more than pawns being played in a game of corporate chess."
"Oh, Hikigaya-san, there's no need to act all cynical. I actually think this competition is a great chance to measure yourself against the other 1st Years. You like games, right, so just pretend the tournament is just a battle royale."
"I know you're trying to be nice, Dunois, but you sound like my mother. Once I heard, "you like games, right," I instantly stopped listening. Why should I care about the other classes if they're all full of teenagers either lacking or overflowing with self-confidence? "National Representative" only serves as a flattering synonym for "special snowflake," whatever that means is up to personal discretion."
"Come on, isn't that the entire point of enrolling at IS Academy, to work hard and claw your way to the top. I, for one, have no intention of slacking off as my sights are squarely set on surpassing you as the top student."
"As I said before, I did not come to this school out of my own volition. It was either IS Academy or becoming the world's most popular loner, oxymoron intended. If anyone desires to take my title as the top student, I will gladly surrender it since I wouldn't have to academically apply myself anymore, freeing countless hours for lazing."
"What's this talk of shirking responsibilities I hear, Hikigaya-kun~?"
"..."
"Or was it just my imagination?"
"Uh, Senpai, you know I was... completely serious. I'm sick of trying and want nothing more than quiet, but this stupid school won't let me. I gave it multiple opportunities to prove me wrong about high school, but it's just disappointments one after the other. If it wasn't for your iron grip on me, I would be a loner free from this Harem nonsense. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it."
"Fish-boy, did you mean every word?"
"Yes, those are my genuine feelings about you and this ridiculous Academy."
"..."
"What are you going to do now; hit me? I'm not taking back anything I said this time, no matter how hard you try."
"Well, if that's the case... congratulations."
"For what?"
"Passing the first stage of my test by speaking up for yourself. It looks like as a Goddess I'm capable of anything."
"So you're telling me your abusive behavior towards me was completely for show? Just an elaborate ploy to "help me"?!"
"Yes, as I saw your downtrodden attitude as a cry of help, and I answered."
"*sigh* You know what, I'm done. I can feel myself losing brain cells for each second longer I talk to you. I'll see you later, Isurugi."
"Come on, Hikigaya-kun, don't be so cold. At least call me Senpai, like you usually do."
"..."
[Flashback End]
Simply describing his apathetic disposition, contrasted with unsettling strengths, grinds my gears.
It took a monumental effort for me to even drag the slacker to the training arena. My earlier method of endless persistence failed miserably, even with Instructor Orimura mandating him to sharpen his skills for the upcoming tournament. He kept declining me no matter how many times I requested or demanded his assistance and eventually stopped listening. The only reason why he is now applying himself is because of two simple practices: bribery and blackmail.
[Flashback]
Again another school day passed without me securing the cooperation of the detestable Hikigaya Hachiman. Every waking moment of my time has been spent convincing the recluse to fight. Yet all of my efforts amounted to nothing. The target despises me and shows no sign of changing that position. I am on the verge of just engaging in personal improvement, but that would mean conceding defeat. As commander of the elite Schwarze Hase brigade, I can't entertain such an outcome. Frustratingly, I must continue acting on my prime directive of studying Hikigaya and furthering his development as a pilot.
Why the higher-ups issued me such a tedious mission, I do not know? My combat skills are top-notch, but espionage was never my strength. I understand why high command is interested in Hikigaya; I've seen the classified footage and can admit its impressiveness, yet is he even capable of repeating such an outing? All I've seen is a bumbling oaf, coasting off of his above-average intelligence.
Walking back to the dorms and passing a vending machine, I could not help but scowl at my frequent failures. However, my luck soon began to change.
*Clunk* I turn towards the refreshment dispenser and stumble across a wild loner with a canned beverage in hand. "Care to explain what you're doing here, Hikigaya?" I flatly question.
"Uh... I can explain, Bodewig, this is Georgia Max Coffee, the nectar of the gods. I just happened to be purchasing one before I began s-studying tonight... Yes, I need the energy for extensive studying, right before tomorrow's math test. Well, I'll be seeing you later..." He had a hesitant explanation, avoided eye contact, and tried nervously shuffling away from the situation. Is that weakness I see? Finally, I've found a breakthrough in the Hikigaya enigma.
"Hold it right there, Hikigaya Hachiman." I firmly stated while glaring daggers... He immediately stopped moving, good. "What a pathetic excuse, as there is no such assessment coming up. However, it would be a shame if Instructor learned that you're cheating on your caffeine cleanse, so how about I help you out. If I buy you one... no two of these "Max Coffees" every day, we seriously start practicing for this tournament. And if you refuse... Well, I hope you enjoy cardio." This strategy may be unsightly for a soldier, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, Hikigaya's help can make it possible to completely crush that foolish boy and show my worth to Instructor. As much as it pains me to admit, I don't have the strength to immobilize the Byakushiki and Rafael Revive under current tournament rules. And this loner is the only one I could work with that wouldn't be a waste of time; sure, he's lazy, immature, and cynical, but on the battlefield, his skills are second to none. I just need to harness those strengths to my advantage while molding him into the ideal soldier as a secondary objective. Instructor may finally return to Europe if I can sway her favorite student in my favor.
"... Bodewig, I love you, and I'm taking that offer of yours. However, are you sure that you can afford all those drinks, as they're not necessarily cheap?"
"Whatever, I have 20 million Euros saved, so I can satiate your dependency." I absentmindedly answered. Did he just say, "I love you"? How sh-shameless. He's no better than a dog wagging its tail at whoever offers it a bone. There's no way someone could say such a thing unless... No, listen to yourself, Laura; he just played one of his tricks on you by making your heart slightly flutter. Remember the file, "Hikigaya Hachiman will manipulate the situation to his advantage if you're careless." This is just his work in action, nothing more.
Besides, I only have only one goal... revenge. And until I crush that fool firmly into the ground, none of these sweet nothings will stop me. "So would you accept Hachiman's feelings after?" some repressed part of me asks... Shut up, shut up, shut up! You're not helping me complete the mission with vapid thoughts like that, brain.
Ok, Laura, maybe the loner is a stronger opponent than you expected. However, it's nothing you, leader of the elite Schwarze Hase brigade, cannot handle... That's it; I'm working this loner to the ground to pick his brain and understand why he uttered such pro-profanities. Get ready, Hikigaya Hachiman, as you've now just signed your death sentence...
[Flashback End]
"Bodewig, are you home? If you're not, I'm leaving, so have a nice day, and don't forget our promise..." I hear his quiet voice ring out, waking me from my stupor.
"Hold on, where do you think you're going, Hachiman. We're not done yet, and if you leave, you do know the con-seq-uen-ces, right~." *groan* His influence is corrupting me, as I just mimicked his annoying sing-song voice without even thinking.
"Are you my girlfriend or something? Wait, don't even answer that; it might make me break down into tears if you do. Stop trying to be cute and endearing; only my sister can do that. Coming from you, it sounds weird and disgusting. Are you experimenting with a new form of psychological horror, the corruption of age-old anime traditions? Apologize to all the anime voice actors working to the bone rehearsing lines like that. Apologize! Now do me a favor and go back to your usual prickly self, Bodewig, for my own sanity at least." He pleads while looking away in embarrassment, light color dusting his cheeks. I never thought Hikigaya was capable of such emotions. It's disappointing yet strangely fascinating to witness at the same time.
"You know what, if it annoys you that much, I'll keep going until you meet my demand. I'm so annoyed that you refer to everyone, including that worm, intimately, except me. It's always, "Bodewig this," "soldier that." I'm your master, and you're my dog and no one's closer to a pet than its owner, so call me by Laura, Ha-chi-man~." If I had to suffer recalling that gaudy memory (I love you, Bodewig), you must pay the price. Clarissa said this was the best way to establish dominance in a relationship, and she always knew the most about Japanese society. I'm using any means at my disposal to extract the best out of my tool.
"Okay... Laura. Fine, are you satisfied now, and if so, let's continue... right when I take a stand against IS Academy, a new variable enters, teasing. I hate this school." He quietly answered, his voice lacking any of its usual edge.
"Do you see that, Cecilia? She's walking all over Hachi-kun. Even I can't do that."
"I recognize the situation, Rin-san, and I think we need to push our efforts even further. It pains me to see someone else manipulate... I mean, exploit Hikigaya-kun like that."
"For some reason, Kanzashi, I feel very angry looking at Hachiman. Do you share this opinion?"
"...You may be right, Houki, as my machine's grip strength suddenly increased while watching Hikigaya, but I'll need to confirm my findings."
"I am so sorry, Hikigaya-san. You must have never wanted to be treated so poorly by the German."
"Did you say something, Charles?"
"Heh, I win." Hah, all the plebians couldn't help but talk about my dominance over Hachiman. I hope that this clarified that no one can get between the dog and me.
Even though my head is focused on taking out Orimura Ichika and rewriting the Instructor's priorities, my heart can't help but feel conflicted about Hachiman. Perhaps, we could become friends or even more... Oh no, I'm becoming one of them, the unsightly vapid girl I swore to hate. Curse you, IS Academy!
Chapter End
Omake: Slowly, The Tide Rises
Akarin~!
A red-haired girl with two hair buns bursts onto the scene, exclaiming, "Hey! Yuru Yuri is about to-."
Before she could finish, another girl, a blonde with a red ribbon in her hair, interrupts, "Akari, I'm sorry to break it to you, but your services are no longer necessary."
"W-what are you saying, Kyouko-chan? My presence is already limited as it is. This is my one reliable source of screentime."
"Oh, you must not have gotten the memo then. Uh, Chinatsu-chan, you explain it to her."
A third girl, this time with pink-haired styled into twin-tails, interjects, "Well Akari-chan, basically, we're focusing on a different character, and not necessarily the Amusement Club or our middle school for that matter. I guess you can say none of us are the center of attention today."
"Wah, Akari doesn't want to lose all her presence! Yui, please say it isn't so. Yuru Yuri is still all about Akari, right?" The red-head pleads to her friend, her face tearing up.
The fourth girl, one with short black hair, sighs, "I'm sorry, Akari, but..."
"Noo! Akari can't dis- Akarin~." The poor girl couldn't even finish crying as she vanished, leaving no trace behind.
"So what are we going to do now, Kyouko?" The black-haired straight-man questions the blonde.
"Well, Yui, it's as they say. The show must go on! Ok, come on out, it's your time to shine!" She motions over to a mysterious figure behind a curtain...
Hachiman~!
And from of the shadow walks out a disinterested teenage boy with messy raven-colored hair and eyes that resemble a dead fish, "Hey! Infinite Loner is about to... No, I'm not doing this. Whatever's left of my pride won't let me. Besides, this isn't my day, anyway." He walks off before carrying out the time-honored tradition.
"Yui, what are we gonna do now? We just lost our main character!"
"I guess we have no other choice. Camera-san, bring her back; we need Akari again."
And out of nowhere, "Niraka~. Wait, I've reappeared. Does that mean Akari is the main character again?"
"Yes, so get this show on the road, Akari. We're really behind schedule."
"All right... Hey! Yuru Yuri is about to start! And today, we're focusing on the Amusement Club potentially meeting a new person. It's all thanks to one of our classmates."
"Who's it gonna be, Akari?"
"Come on, Kyouko-chan, if I gave it away now, that would take away all the suspense."
"Akari-chan, is it connected to the surprise guest we just had?"
"I don't know, Chinatsu-chan, anything is possible? Teehee~."
"Well, whatever it is doesn't matter. On with the chapter!"
"Hey Yui, you took Akari's..."
Infinite Loner
It was just another day for the Amusement Club. The four of us sat in the Tea Club room and enjoyed each other's company. I was reading some manga, a new volume of Mirakurun at that, Yui was figuring out a walkthrough for one of her games, and Chinatsu worked on her picture book. Overall, it was a slow day, but I enjoyed moments like this, lulls between bursts of action. We didn't always need a grand event pushing us along, and if anything, they could get a little overwhelming. I guess you could say routine is the spice of life for many.
"Uh, I'm bored! I want something interesting to happen, like Rum Raisin raining from the sky. All we've done today is sit and do nothing. Is this how my middle school career will end, quietly?" Except for one, as Kyouko-chan started complaining about our inaction. I almost forgot about the fleeting nature of the Amusement Club as in a few months, we'd all be separated. Yui and Kyouko-chan would move onto high school while the rest of us would stay in middle school for one more year. It's hard to think about that day, but that makes it all the more important to treasure the present.
"So what do you expect us to do, Kyouko? It's not like anything big is happening soon since summer break is weeks away." Yui shifted her attention away from her book to ask her question, her eyes drilling into our clubmate.
"I don't know, but with my luck, inspiration will strike at any moment. Just give me a few seconds and..." Kyouko closed her eyes and scrunched her face as she tried to will an event out of nowhere.
"Kyouko-senpai, you're so immature. Is that really the sort of behavior for a soon-to-be high schooler?" Chinatsu-chan felt unimpressed with her enthusiasm and challenged its presence.
"Oh, don't worry, as I know at least one other high schooler as unique as me. If anything, I look normal in comparison." Kyouko-chan pivoted away from her superstitious act to answer Chinatsu-chan. Huh, she knows a high schooler? Who could that be?
"I wouldn't say that they're worse than you; it's just that their personality is a bit prickly. Akari, why do you look so confused, as we've all seen them before?" Yui sent a questioning look my way. I don't remember this mysterious person. A high schooler that three of us met already? The only one that comes to mind is...
"Yahallo everyone, as the great Komachi is here!" Before I could finish my thought, a new voice entered the clubroom, and it was my classmate Hikigaya Komachi. I wonder what she's doing here?
"Ah, Komachi-chan, just the person I wanted to see." Kyouko walked over to our visitor with a big smile on her face.
"The feeling's mutual, as I've got some big news to share."
"What could that be, Komachi?"
"Well, I've been hearing whispers of doubt from my classmates, and especially Iroha-senpai, about my family. She doesn't believe that my brother is the infamous pilot at IS Academy. I need to figure out a way to prove her wrong." Komachi brought forward her concerns and sought our opinion on the matter. Oh, I forgot all about her brother, Hikigaya-san, as he's in high school right now. He rivaled me in terms of minimal presence, as I rarely saw him whenever we visited.
"Hmm... you've got the right idea, Komachi-chan, for bringing this to the Amusement Club. Detective Kyouko is now on the case!"
"*sigh* I don't think now is the time for dramatics, Kyouko. Save that energy for writing your Mirakurun stories."
"Hold on, Mirakurun... How could I forget! Next week they're having a tennis tournament at Sobu high, with the grand prize being Mirakurun merch. Komachi-chan, you should just bring your brother there, and then Iroha won't be able to laugh off your claims anymore."
"Seriously, Kyouko-senpai, you think a high school boy is interested in a magical girl franchise?"
"Actually, if it's Hachi-san, it might work... Are you actually a genius or something, Kyouko?"
"I know Yui, I'm the greatest, so spare me the applause. I'd like to be paid in Rum Raisin, so..."
"Great idea, Kyouko-san. All I have to do now is put the plan into action." Komachi, now satisfied, walked out of the clubroom, closing the door behind her.
"Who even is this "Hikigaya-san," I never knew Komachi-chan had a brother? I don't want to be left out, Yui-senpai." Chinatsu-chan didn't understand what happened and could only ask questions once Komachi left.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you but remember that urban legend about the boy who was so hated that his classmates beat him up on Final Ranking Day?"
"How could I not? It was everywhere just a few years ago."
"So basically, that guy was real, and his name is Hikigaya-."
"We all call him Hachi-san."
"Kyouko, he only lets me do that. I don't even think he knows who you are."
"Please, Yui, Toshino Kyouko is a household name. Everybody knows who I am, including Hachi-san. We sometimes trade Mirakurun volumes, you know~?"
"Kyouko-senpai, can you please stop interrupting, Yui-senpai! The world doesn't revolve around you, you know~?"
"Hachi-san wouldn't be so cold to me, you know~?"
"*sigh* Can everyone please stop with all the, "you knows~?" you're making it sound like Iroha is here."
"Sorry."
"My mistake, Yui-senpai."
"Ahem, basically Komachi's brother is Hikigaya Hachiman, and he likes to style himself as the King of Loners. If that doesn't give away his personality, he generally prefers to spend time alone and lacks friends. He attends IS Academy as one of three male pilots, and he's trending on social media due to his exploits."
"Oh, Akari knows that one it's the #InfiniteLoner."
"So that was him; I guess it makes sense."
"In any case, if Hachi-san is going to Sobu, we will do the same. As President of the Amusement Club, I designate the tennis tournament as a mandatory outing! If you miss, you're ending up as Nishigaki-sensei's next lab rat."
"Whatever, Kyouko-senpai, I'll go. If Yui-senpai is close to this Hikigaya-san, I need to study him. I'll take any chance to push our relationship along."
"Yay, Akari wants to go Sobu! I want to see how mature high schoolers are, so I can grow up too."
"You know what, why not. It's been a while since I've seen Hachi-san. I wonder if he's changed since then..? Maybe he has a g-girlfriend?!"
"With everyone in agreement, I declare this meeting adjourned! Middle school has been boring lately, so maybe Hachi-san can spice things up. Who cares that he doesn't remember me. Besides, I might be calling him something different soon, teehee~."
Omake End
Author's Note- How's it going everyone, did you enjoy the chapter? Leave your thoughts with a review, and favorite and follow to increase the story's footprint. Now, where was I... I've explained before that I've been working on Infinite Loner for a while, right? Over that time I went through multiple phases which all stagnated at chapter 15, I tried writing Hachiman integrated into Ichika's (not) Harem, the whole variety show approach (i.e the Detective Club, chapter 13), and the third phase of the loner pulling away from his classmates. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't finish my vision and returned to the drawing board. Thanks to all the reader engagement, I now have a clear vision of Infinite Loner's strengths and can write chapter 15 around them, it will just take a while. Also, I have two questions before I leave, do you want the omake to be canon (Amusement Club interacting with our cast) or should they sit this story out (for now) and how much of the Oregairu cast should show up at IS Academy. The omake was originally part of chapter 14, but I shied away from it after the last chapter's turbulent reception. As for the second topic, I've hinted at two characters showing up and am open to including more, but not to the detriment of the story's development. I would be really grateful to hear your responses so I could plan accordingly. I'm sorry for the long author's note, but I had a lot to get off my chest, and I hope it doesn't sound too clinical. In other news, this should probably post on the 24th so... Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! If I don't write before the 31st, Happy New Year's as well! I've been Mayflower Productions, thank you for reading Infinite Loner and I'll catch you on the flipside.
Preview:
"Achoo!" I felt shivers run down my spine.
"What is it now, Hachiman? Are you hungry, tired, or were the 100 laps not enough for you?"
"You just don't understand, soldier-."
"Grr..."
"I mean Laura. I almost have a Sixth Sense for misfortune these days, and that sneeze just activated it."
"*sigh* And you're supposed to be the Strongest 1st Year."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? Are you disappointed in me? Join the club, as many people share your opinion, including my parents. Regardless of their concerns, I'm a pretty high-spec guy, you know~? It's not my fault... Ok, mostly my fault for misinterpreting Orimoto's gestures back then. But these days, I'm just an ordinary friendless loner."
"The more you speak Hachiman, the less I think of you."
"Well, I hate you two, you muscle-brained soldier!"
"What did you say, Hachiman?" Laura partially deployed her railgun and aimed it at me. Woah, what's going on here? Can I not be snarky anymore? Past Hachiman would have backed down and sworn fealty under the riajuu, or in this case, child soldier, but I am different. I'm sick of these women walking all over me. I said I would fight, and so it shall be done.
"I regret nothing, Laura!" I deployed the Undefeated Champion and started sprinting away from the charging weapon.
"Next time on Infinite Loner Chapter 15- Once Again, Their Paths Crossed."
*sigh* Why can't I just have a quiet high school life?
Chapter End