Chapter 17 Part 1: The Class-League Tournament

Foreword: Uh, it's been a while, huh? I guess time flies by while you're having fun... three months passed in the blink of an eye. Hello, I'm Mayflower Productions returning with another installment of Infinite Loner. Today is another one of those multiple-part chapters since I wanted to fit in something before the end of June (it is June 30th at the time of my reading this) and had nothing else ready. Will I or will I not be successful is yet to be determined. In other news, we're approaching 400 followers and 300 favorites which is incredible. I appreciate everyone showing this story support, and I hope chapter 17 can push us over the edge. As for the chapter itself, I once again experimented with third-person POV, so leave your thoughts about it in a review. The next part covers the conclusion of the current arc so stay on the lookout for that... Now for Infinite Loner Chapter 17 Part 1: The Class-League Tournament... (It feels good to be back.)

Infinite Loner- line break [The Loner]- POV shift, indicator (Hikigaya Hachiman) "Take this, you imposter!"- 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.

Interlude: The Gods Remain Undefeated

[The Narrator] (Third-Person)

"Tick, tock!" The sound of a clock emanates in the room. Its location: IS Academy Dorm Number 2012. The time: a few hours before a competition. The room's inhabitants: two people.

"Zzz..." One was a raven-haired boy whose eyes were frequently compared to a dead fish. He went by many titles, from the King of Loners to the Weakest Pilot. He also had a penchant for misfortune as one of the few male Infinite Stratos pilots, a hot commodity to unscrupulous world governments and corporations.

Thanks to this status, he was gifted the Undefeated Champion, a third-generation IS specialized for surveillance built by the eccentric Shinonono Tabane. He also dealt with numerous adventures, ranging from fighting a mysterious violet machine to meeting colorful classmates; each day always held something new for him, which he would all rather forget about. He was, of course, Hikigaya Hachiman, the boy who strived for a quiet life, yet time and time again, life failed to fulfill that wish.

"That's right, I'm leaving IS Academy, and no one can stop me. Heh, heh, heh... Zzz," unlike most moments, Hikigaya was soundly asleep, dreaming of a reality where he could divorce himself from his "gift" of IS compatibility. Sadly, those hopes were slim to none, but he didn't need to know.

Aside from the low hum of the dorm's air conditioning and the clock's ticking, his quiet breathing filled the still room. With the male pilot firmly out of commission, it left one final point of contention.

"..." Next to the sleeping Hikigaya stood a silent girl, whose beautiful silver hair glittered with the creeping sun. She could be mistaken from a distance for a princess with her dainty frame and short stature, but that was far from the case. This girl lived a spartan lifestyle in pursuit of becoming the ultimate weapon at any cost, with her black eyepatch an obvious sign. She was a Snow Maiden to her classmates. One whose face rarely showed any variation from cold indifference. Her peers worshipped her for her steely determination to improve and immense skill as a fighter. She had one goal in life: a desire fueling her every waking moment. She wanted to become like her beloved Lehrerin, the woman who put her life on track after losing her way; to achieve that end, the Snow Maiden was prepared for anything, including disposing of a certain younger brother.

"Endlich, ist die Zeit jetzt. (Translator's Note: "Finally, the time is now.")," she affirmed to herself. This girl was, of course, Laura Bodewig, Germany's National Representative and holder of Schwarzen Regen, her nation's latest iteration of the emerging technology. Why was she in the same room as Hikigaya? That's a story for another time. All that mattered was the two students had a tenuous partnership formed out of convenience and chance with a famous teacher pushing them along. However, their relationship was less than ideal as Laura regularly worked the male pilot to exhaustion, and he, in turn, avoided her like the plague.

"..." The Snow Maiden stared at her sleeping roommate with a storm of thoughts brewing in her head. 'Hikigaya Hachiman, why does that name bother me so much? He has no notable strengths aside from complaining and his childish delusions of superpowers (108 Loner Skills), but... There is something about him, an intrinsic quality drawing me towards him. What could that be?' she mulled. Within Laura existed a diatribe between her heart and mind, each pulling in opposite directions. She could not precisely articulate that feeling since she had long forsaken any hopes of friendship to pursue her goals. She ignored those dissenting voices for her detachment from Hikigaya, seeing it as meaningless drivel for someone of her stature.

However, Laura Bodewig underestimated the strength of the unconscious as her body leaned in ever so closer to her roommate. Each passing clock tick decreased the distance until... "Zzz," she loomed over him, her radiant hair drooping over his sleeping features.

"..." one second passed, then two, and finally three before she realized what happened. 'W-why am I staring at Hachiman? If there was an earthquake, we might, might...' her mind started wandering from its usual narrow-minded scope. Her blushing face matched those of the "vapid" girls she often despised. Alas, the universe worked in mysterious ways, which allowed for such an odd sight: a battle-hardened soldier fretting like a maiden hopelessly in love.

Sadly, or thankfully (depending on who you were), Laura regained control over the situation and steered herself away from the potentially compromising position. 'He's just the means to an end, a useful stepping stone to crush that Orimura boy.' and her thoughts in kind reflected that change. She scowled at Hikigaya before lightly kicking his bed as retaliation for his unintentional efforts.

"Boom!" Unfortunately for the unsuspecting boy, Laura had put in more effort than she intended, and he felt a shockwave of power. No mortal man would be capable of sleeping through such an endeavor, and Hikigaya Hachiman was no exception.

"What's going on? Did we have an earthquake or something?" he jolted awake in a cold sweat, his eyes darting across the dorm before settling on his roommate's deep glare.

"Grr," Laura's gaze darkened multiple shades once she made eye contact with Hikigaya. This gesture worried Hikigaya as he feared the worst, 'Why is she glaring at me? What did I do wrong? It shouldn't be about Plan B, right? I've never told her anything about it... Unless I started muttering about it in my sleep? Oh no... Please let that not be the case.'

However, his concerns were slightly misplaced as his roommate fretted over other matters, 'What compelled me, a noble warrior, to such a demeaning action? It can't be his strength or charisma, which are cardboard constructs... None of this makes sense! Stupid, idiotic, Casanova, Hachiman!' Her mind was in turmoil.

'Whatever those childish reasons are, don't matter. I will show Instructor the error of her ways with my strength!' It took a herculean effort to set everything in order. Regardless, Laura Bodewig resolved to achieve her goal of crushing one Orimura Ichika in their upcoming match. She now only treated her teammate as an asset to her victory and nothing more.

'I guess it wasn't the worst-case scenario.' Hikigaya Hachiman noticed her gesture and sighed a breath of relief, seeing that his worst fears were unrealized. He no longer had to worry about his secret strategy being leaked and could relax.

Both parties temporarily called a truce, unkeen on slowing each other down before the tournament. They had goals for the 1st round matchup against Orimura Ichika and his French roommate, whether a raison d'être or an ambiguous directive, which were vitally important to them.

However, their silent agreement ignored their issue, a rocky relationship, and its source. The two pilots were walking on a narrow rope, and it appeared that an invisible force tried pushing them together. Call it "fate," "destiny," or a lazy author; the specific title doesn't matter. Whether that party will be ultimately successful remains undetermined. For now, this situation could be described best by one of Hikigaya's frequent quips, "Curse you, Rom-com Gods!"

From a distance, it seemed they were undefeated in tormenting teenagers, but will that trend last?

'It's almost showtime for [Plan B]'s final act.' Especially with whatever Hikigaya Hachiman was planning.

Interlude End

Infinite Loner

[The Loner]

After that less-than-ideal morning, I was left exhausted while sitting in the Arena stands. Where was I exactly? Well, of course, far away from the box housing today's Guests of Honors (world leaders, corporation heads, IS engineers, etc.). Who do you think I am, a riajuu? As I've said before, the last thing I needed was more attention which those important organizations would inevitably provide if they learned anything about me. My one goal at IS Academy was to live a quiet life, and no one can stop me from achieving that.

"So, Hachi-kun~, what are your thoughts on the first match?" Well, I stand corrected.

"Mysterious Lady?" I turned to meet the playful voice and met a familiar face. She had the same short cerulean hair, scarlet eyes, and mischievous grin. Why do things never go my way? It's almost impressive how poor my luck is, with the same situation occurring repeatedly: I find a secluded location, assume the coast was clear, and then, surprise, I have an "unexpected" visitor. Instead of the King of Loners, I should rename myself the King of Misfortune.

"Correct~," she replied with a beaming smile. I can't look; it's too bright; I might accidentally confess and get rejected.

"..." I almost suffered whiplash while breaking eye contact with how fast my head moved. Thanks to Loner Skill #45, [Heart of Steel], my body unconsciously avoided potential misunderstandings about relationships. I'll admit, my actions may not be the most convenient, but whatever gets the job done. As I like to say, an experienced loner doesn't make the same mistake twice... except when you see my long list of exceptions... Hah, hah, hah.

"The silent treatment, huh? You're no fun," she pouted at my silence and started poking my face to regain my attention. Try all you want to bother me, Mysterious Lady; my composure is world-class!... However, her efforts were somewhat distracting, so I sought to stop her. After all, the Class-League Tournament was about to start.

"Do you not have anything better to do than pester me?" I asked, breaking my earlier vow to non-cooperation.

"I could train, but that wouldn't be necessary with my skills," she answered, shrugging. So the Mysterious Lady wasn't talented either? It made sense if she used her precious free time to bother me instead of practicing. There must be a chasm separating her from the other 2nd Years. In a way, our situations mirrored each other as pseudo outcasts, so maybe that could lead to us... Hah, as if I would believe that generic Rom-com cliche! What weak pilot would have a nickname and wander around campus (doesn't realize his own hypocrisy)? Obviously, she's lying about something, and it would be foolish for me to take her words at face value.

"Oh, I see," I remarked, nodding, lying as naturally as I breathed. If this "Mysterious Lady" wants to play a game of deception, she can have one. In this regard, I'm the strongest!... I swear that line ("When it comes to losing...") keeps haunting me wherever I go.

"Thank you for putting up with the wait," the two of us stopped our conversation and focused on the monitor before us, projecting Arena 3's center. On it was IS Academy's Principal, an older woman, as she introduced the Tournament. Sometimes I wish life had a skip button to gloss over boring speeches. We've all heard these empty platitudes of "exercise fair play" and "demonstrate your abilities to their fullest potential" previously. Aside from the dopamine rush of self-congratulation for the one saying these lines, no one gains anything from their words. Everyone here: whether they be the Guests of Honor watching in their ivory tower, the four pilots gearing up for the first match, or the waves of students sitting in the stands, could all be doing something more productive with their time. But no, some antiquated tradition dictates that we all must instead be held hostage by a speaker reading from a script riddled with cliched sayings... Why am I having the strangest sense of deja vu?

"Now, with all the formalities out of the way, I would like to open IS Academy's Class League Tournament!" I tuned back into reality, hoping the torture ended and was pleasantly surprised that things went my way, for once, as I saw the Principal finish her speech and walk away from the Arena's center. From my brief glimpse at her actions, something felt odd about the Principal, like someone choreographed her every move. Sure, these commencement speeches are not usually the most organic, but hers was different.

"Maybe those whispers have some merit," I quietly voiced. Wait, you may ask, what whispers was I referring to? While on my arduous travels (read: eating in the cafeteria), I overheard numerous discussions among the masses. Most topics were beyond my comprehension (read: romance, high school girl things), but the few that made sense talked about the Academy's higher-ups.

Some said that the Student Council President was the strongest pilot, which for the sake of this conversation, doesn't matter. There was no way the President would talk to me, right? I don't mean to brag, but I have an undefeated record in hide and seek... Sure it's because no one realized I was playing, but let's ignore that! Combined with Stealth Hikki, you have the makings of an unknown high school student.

Regardless of my incredible talents, there were other rumors. One claimed that the school was led by a mysterious man using the Principal as a figurehead. That one particularly interested me with modern society's perceived gender imbalance and the nature of Infinite Stratos; since the technology was only compatible with women (until very recently), most positions related to its development and the field were female.

Yeah, yeah, It would be naive to assume that all power structures changed in the past ten years, so there were probably numerous shady figures lurking under the surface looking out for their own interests and also using proxies, but I'll restrain myself. From there on out, my thoughts wander towards aimless speculation, and I don't care enough to delve into that rabbit hole right now. On the other hand, Mary Holmes would froth at the mouth to unravel such a mystery, hence her title as Detective Club President. Why am I her "Watson," though?

Ahem. Uh, where was I... The potential that IS Academy, the perceived center of contemporary values, was headed by the old order and its ensuing irony captivated me. Yet I can't get my hopes up, as reality tends to fall short of the blistering heights of dreams... And there's another repeated line, what am I, a broken record?

"*Cough, cough*," sitting next to me, the nameless 2nd Year had a minor coughing fit. Allergies must be bothersome this time of year, which made me glad I had none... But on second thought, you could use them as an excuse to avoid hanging out with others or pairing up in gym class. This issue was more complicated than it initially seemed.

"It's finally our time to shine, Cecilia."

"The wait felt horribly long, but as you said, that is now behind us, Rin-san. We can now only move upwards from this point," and here we have our first duo, the ojou-san and slave driver. They were, on paper, a fearsome combination as two National Representatives with Third-Generation machines. In an ideal scenario, they could decimate everyone and cruise to victory in this competition. That nagging fear brought momentary pause while I read the match orders yesterday since they could derail Plan B's completion by defeating Team Ichika or Team Loners early on... All it required was communication and unselfish play on their part. How hard could it be to mess that up?

"Wow, they're acting overconfident like you said, Yukinoshita-san."

"Of course, when have I ever been wrong?" Thankfully, my concerns were soothed as Team Representatives (I couldn't think of a more creative name) were fighting someone else. Mainly the Ice Queen and, and, what was her name again? Ignoring my failing memory, she was that girl in my class who always reminded me about my Student Council duties since, you know, "to work is to lose," and the like. Also, high school romance works in mysterious ways, and I'm not interested in losing my personality right now. It's what makes me unique, you know~?

"Please don't lose, Yukinoshita," If there was someone to derail the freight train of the personal IS pilots, it was her, and I quietly prayed for her success. Sure, this fight's victor doesn't interfere with Plan B, but Rin and the pompous Cecilia Alcott irk me to no end. I don't necessarily like Yukinoshita, as our relationship was a smoldering wreck, but she's tolerable compared to them (read: a nuclear disaster). You could say that the Ice Queen and her nameless lackey were the lesser of two evils.

"Oh, I didn't know you had a sweetheart, Hachi~kun?" The Mysterious Lady teased with a knowing grin. *sigh* You thought you had me cornered? Well, you're sorely mistaken.

"Please, me and her, what do you think I am, a masochist? Don't make me laugh." I replied with an unamused look.

"*stare*~" The Ice Queen icily glared at the projector. Who could she be angry with? It can't possibly be me, right? "Hmph," and she quickly looked away, huffing... Understanding the mind of an IS Academy student is just beyond me, which is unfortunate since I prided myself on my observational skills.

"Her thoughts are but a mystery to me," I mused.

"Why were you looking towards the stands, Yukinoshita?" Rin asked.

"You don't need to bother yourself with it, Fang-san," the Ice Queen cooly responded. Get it because she's... Ok, I'll stop, the joke is never funny, yet I continue to make it.

"It was him, wasn't it," the ojou-san added. What are they talking about? They keep referring to these pronouns without ever highlighting the antecedent. This isn't a story with an omniscient narrator; please follow the correct syntax! No one can comprehend your conversation.

"So that's what going on," the Mysterious Lady nodded in affirmation. What? How does she get it, but I don't? It's not like I'm immensely invested in the conversation, but this isn't the Frieza Saga; we don't need to stall for time. Start fighting already!

"I have no idea what you are implying, Alcott-san," the Ice Queen feigned ignorance.

"We should probably start now, Yukinoshita-san," her teammate, the... I remember now; she's the NPC. How could I forget something so important?

"Let's get this show on the road."

"There's no need for us to delay any longer."

"If you are all so insistent on beginning, I will oblige your wishes."

"Summon!" They all called for or settled into their ISs, with Blue Tears and Shenlong momentarily flashing into existence, their forms devoid of yesterday's wear and tear. Wow, the Engineering Department is impressive. What a shame I avoid them like the plague (read: afraid of lapsing into old habits).

1st Match of IS Academy Class League Tournament

[Takatsuki Shizune- Raefeal Revive (Defensive Variant): Shield Energy- 100/100% and Yukinoshita Yukino- Uchigane (Offensive Variant): Shield Energy- 100/100%]

Versus

[Fang Rin- Shenlong: Shield Energy- 100/100% and Cecilia Alcott- Blue Tears: Shield Energy- 90/90%]

Match Start

Infinite Loner

"Zoom!"

"Whoosh!"

"Boom!"

"Slash!"

"So loud," I winced from my seat. The source of my displeasure was below as the fight quickly escalated into a whirlwind.

"Clash!" Both sides vied for the upper hand, using every tool in their arsenal. My eyes barely kept up with the match's blistering pace as Rin and Yukinoshita traded blows. I would explain further, but combat commentary has never been my calling. If anything, it bothered me when people started randomly narrating from the sidelines during sports events, and the like. Yes, we can see they scored a point; I don't need you to reiterate that while blaring your lungs out... That was why I avoided those social functions and stayed home where life was calm... *sigh* I miss my room.

"They're doing surprisingly well," the Mysterious Lady muttered. She stared intently at the fight, speaking less to me than herself... Wait, this could be my chance! If everyone's so occupied with the Tournament, I could escape undetected. The 3rd Match was not for another two hours... Huh, that's not enough time to relax? I subscribed to the motto, "Where there's a will, there's a way," and my motivation to leave was sky-high.

Infinite Loner

[The Protagonist] (Orimura Ichika)

"It's finally time for the main event."

"The long wait will make my victory taste even sweeter."

"We'll see about that."

"..." The moment had arrived as four personal IS pilots squared off each other, all brimming with energy... Well, at least three of us were.

"You can win this, Orimura-kun~!"

"We believe in you, Dunois-kun~!"

"Is that a rare smirk from the stoic Laura-san?"

"How exciting~," and the crowd reciprocated our excitement with an ecstatic reception. Each contestant had their supporters cheer for them, including the prickly Laura.

"... Don't humiliate yourself too much, fish-boy."

"Don't worry, Senpai, Hachi-kun will be fine... probably?" except for one who only garnered tepid excitement... Never much of a people person are we, Hachiman?

"Come, Byakushiki!"

"Revive!"

"Schwarzen Regen!"

"Solitude is my strength, and logic is my sword!" We all summoned our machines which coated the arena in a blinding light... Wow, that's brighter than I expected; it's like a Solar Flare.

3rd Match of IS Academy Class League Tournament

[Charles Dunois- Rafael Revive (Custom II): Shield Energy- 100/100% and Orimura Ichika- Byakushiki: Shield Energy- 100/100%]

Versus

[Laura Bodewig- Schwarzen Regen: Shield Energy- 100/100% and Hikigaya Hachiman- Undefeated Champion: Shield Energy- 100/100%]

Match Start

"I'll settle this once and for all!" Once the starting bell rang, I charged at Laura with Ignition Boost and Yukihira Nigata. Maybe this strategy is a bit obvious, but it usually gets the job done. It was also important to test her close combat defense while I had shield energy points to trade.

"Hah, you're as predictable as ever!" And my opponent sneered, unfazed by the incoming attack. Why was she so overconfident? Well...

"What?" I lost all my momentum and froze in place. This was due to Schwarzen Regen's One-off ability, AIC, or [Active Inertial Canceller]. Some also called it Active Intertial Arrest, but that's not important. Long story short, this power allowed her to block any frontal attack by restraining the pilot. After seeing Bodewig using it a few times during training, and a crash course from my classmates, I had a rough understanding of its strengths and limitations.

"Attempting a simple sword slash against me? How uncreative could you be?" She mocked while readying her weapon, the menacing railgun attached to her back. If that hit me, my defenses wouldn't last very long.

"Oh really, I'm glad to see we're on the same page," I replied, smirking. Why was I so calm; that AIC could effortlessly render Byakushiki irrelevant? The answer... this fight was a tag team battle, not an isolated engagement.

"Am I interrupting something?" Charles asked from behind, firing her submachine gun and scoring direct hits on our opponent.

"How did you..." Laura blanched at her sudden appearance and retreated. She underestimated our teamwork and suffered the consequences.

"Don't think I've forgotten about you, Hachiman!" I exclaimed, changing targets to an idle Undefeated Champion. Charles closely followed, and he soon found himself cornered.

"Don't take this personally, Hikigaya-san." My teammate wryly smiled.

"Oh no, I'm trapped..." Hachiman apathetically remarked, lacking any frustration at his position. And to think I overestimated his strengths; all that bravado for the past week was just for show.

"Whoosh!" Moments before my blade connected with his armor, Hachiman disappeared. How is that possible?...

"Tsk, tsk, Orimura-kun, and to think you're the great Brunhilde's younger brother," my former roommate sighed. He stood below us after somehow avoiding our attack. It must be a fluke, right?

"Shall we try again, Ichika?" Charles asked, swapping weapons for a double-barreled shotgun. She utilized her skill of [Rapid Switch] to make such a seamless change to reassess our offensive. We needed maximum close-range firepower to overwhelm Hachiman and eliminate him quickly.

"Yeah," and with my nod, we pressed on. Yukihira coursed with energy as I activated my trump card, Reiraku Byakuya. This time my strike won't fail to hit.

"Trying to isolate me, huh? It's not like I didn't see this coming," our opponent noted as we grew closer. In only a few seconds, Charles and I would reach him, and his fight would end. "However," Hachiman continued speaking, his gaze focused on something in the distance, "I think you're underestimating someone, Ichika."

"Who?" I replied, confused by his cryptic message. What was he playing at this time?

"Crash!" I felt myself lose balance as if something had hit me. Once again, I had to retract my attack and disengage my one-off ability, aware of its parasitic nature. This fight wouldn't be a repeat of the Class Rep Cup.

"Don't forget this is our struggle, Orimura Ichika!" I turned to the source of the damage and saw an angry Laura Bodewig... So she must have used that railgun of hers.

[Byakushiki: Shield Energy- 70/100%]

I guess Operation Double Team wouldn't work against Schwarzen Regen's versatile armaments. Well, at least we figured that out early on.

"Charles, change of strategy!" I exclaimed to my partner. Over the past month, we've developed some synergy, so...

"Understood," she immediately pivoted into our next strategy. It was surreal how well Charles could read my mind. I wouldn't be too surprised if my French roommate were secretly an esper... Ok, Ichika, time to focus! I psyched myself up in preparation for my next move.

"Whoosh!" Wielding Yukihira, I again charged at my German adversary... Wait, but you tried this before, won't you just get the same result? Some might call my strategy unimaginative or crude, but a brute force approach was my specialty. Chifuyu-nee even said it herself; my machine was defective, heavily specialized for attacking. Knowing all that, why wouldn't I play to my strengths?

"I can't believe how simple-minded you are, Orimura Ichika," Laura sighed as she activated AIC by raising her right hand. Her gesture abruptly stopped me like before, leaving Byakushiki open to attack. She seized the opportunity by charging her railgun for another blow... Yes, everything is going according to plan.

Before Laura could deliver another blast, Charles hit her with a double shot, breaking her concentration. Once she was distracted, her AIC dispersed, and I could resume my offensive.

"Slash!" I scored a clean strike on Laura that sent her flying. Maybe that will be enough for her to admit defeat?

"Orimura Ichika, I will eliminate you!" A man can dream... I guess it's time to gear up for a long and bitter struggle.

"In your dreams, Laura Bodewig!" It's not like this fight can end any other way.

Infinite Loner

"Finally, you're wide open!" I exclaimed while diving in for another attack. Only a few minutes have passed in this fight, yet it felt like hours. I thought the world sped up when you're full of adrenaline, not the opposite.

Our engagement had devolved into a grueling war of attrition, where each side kept trading haymakers. Charles and I would deliver a blow, and then Laura would return it, twice as strong. Why was that a problem if we outnumbered Laura? The answer was twofold: every attack I connected shaved away at my shield energy due to Reiraku Byakuya's properties, and the enemy had a secret weapon... The Undefeated Champion.

Sure, it doesn't deal much damage or have the flashiest specs, but his IS had something we lacked, health. After our initial plan of isolating Hachiman failed, we had to ignore him and focus on his teammate. Luckily he couldn't take advantage of his newfound breathing room, leaving him as a non-factor... for now. Charles and I knew we needed to defeat Laura soon before the shield energy gap was insurmountable.

"Using the same predictable move, you disappoint me," Laura grumbled while activating AIC, which like clockwork, restrained me in place. We've done this same song and dance countless times by now, so she expected my presence... But what if the rhythm changed?

"I'm sorry a waltz wasn't enough for you, Laura Bodewig," I sighed, taking great care to make my voice sound as even as possible. If she figured out my secret message, the plan would lose all its surprise.

"What are you talking about?" My opponent mused, confused about my earlier statement. Success! She fell for my acting, and I stalled for enough time for...

"Zoom!" Charles dashed across the arena from her ambush location. It looks like she readily understood my suggestion and made her preparations.

"How are you moving so fast? Don't tell me she's using Ignition Boost," Laura stammered as she turned to meet the incoming French pilot, barely having enough time to muster a defense.

"Correct~,"

"But how? Nothing in the data said you knew about it..."

"Exactly, since this is the first time I'm using it," While the two were busy, I pulled away from them to ready my secret weapon... Why does this process have to be so complicated? I wish I could [Rapid Switch]...

"Disengaging Yukihira, huh? I never thought I would see the day," Hachiman commented from a distance. Thankfully, he decided to observe and not attack while I was vulnerable... I always knew we were best friends.

"Ok, here goes nothing," I steadied my aim on Laura and pulled the trigger... If this shot misses... No, I won't even think about that option. I have to believe in myself.

"Boom!" And unlike the many practice runs, the attack hit its target. I don't think I'll ever get used to these rifles. They're not my style.

"Who damaged me," Laura, dazed from her blow, started searching for her assailant. I can only imagine her reaction to the truth.

"Heh," I smirked, claiming ownership for the attack.

"This doesn't make sense. Byakushiki only has Yukihira..."

"Who said I couldn't borrow a weapon?"

"I was outplayed twice... They were supposed to be pushovers," the shock of our teamwork must have shocked Laura as her confidence shattered. This is our chance to end things. Who knows when she'll ever be this powerless.

"Charles, it's time for the finishing blow!"

"If you insist, Ichika," and with her affirmation, we scrambled to ensnare Laura in a pincer movement.

I activated Reiraku Byakuya and rushed the pair, hoping to make the final attack. Laura, recognizing the incoming danger of my sword, hastily used AIC to slow me down... Using the same strategy, where's her sense of creativity?

"That tunnel vision of yours might be your Achilles heel, Laura Bodewig," while stopped, I gave my German classmate a weak grin.

"As if anything you claim holds any baring, Orimura Ichika," and she readily dismissed my warning... Why are some people just so stubborn (he doesn't realize his hypocrisy)?

"Hah, We'll see about that," I laughed... And 3, 2, 1...

"Whoosh!" On cue, Charles appeared before Laura, armed with a large shield. At first glance, the situation looks odd: why would someone attack with a defensive tool? I initially shared the same opinion until I learned more about my partner's IS. Even though it was an outdated model, her Rafael Revive came equipped with many weapons for various scenarios. One of which had a humble appearance but delivered lethal strength that could rival any third-generation machine. It was, of course...

"Shield Pierce!" Charles exclaimed as her weapon's front plate opened, revealing a stake and multiple explosives. In a way, Shield Pierce resembled Yukihira Nigata with its potential destructive power, which spelled disaster for Laura.

"Crash!" The stake propelled forwards, striking its target's gut.

"No, why is this happening? I was supposed to be the strongest... just like," although Absolute Defense prevented any most physical injuries, Laura paled as she saw her shield energy points plunge closer to zero.

Surprisingly, Shield Pierce wasn't enough to eliminate her, as she still hovered in the air. It was clear that the next attack would end things. Maybe I'm glad it wound up that way; now I could drive home my point... The meaning of strength and the importance of relying on others.

"Ichika, I'm sorry that my trump card wasn't enough," Charles apologized, disappointed in Shield Pierce's impact.

"It's ok. I'll finish this fight myself," I replied, my voice brimming with confidence. Maybe I'm glad matters wound up this way; now I could drive home my point... The meaning of strength and the importance of relying on others. But why does this conclusion feel hollow? It's like we're only at the beginning, but of what?... This fight has gone a bit too smoothly, but I'm not complaining.

I slowly flew to Laura, Yukihira ready to deliver the definitive strike and eliminate my opponent. However, before I could reach and do the deed, the unexpected occurred...

"Not if I have anything to say about it, Idiot," Hikigaya Hachiman joined the fray.

"Isn't it a bit late for a dramatic entrance, Hachiman?" I tried laughing off his sudden intervention.

"H-Hikigaya-san, what are you doing?" And Charles could only stammer in shock. Although we had different reactions, our thoughts were probably the same. Hachiman's sudden appearance wasn't a good sign.

"Heh, so this is when the tables turn," even Laura, in her fractured state, understood the ramifications and started smiling.

We thought he would avoid brawling with his negligible armor and unreliable mobility with his lack of Ignition Boost. He could fly fast but had complicated acceleration due to the design of his thrusters. They needed time to gain speed. How do I know all about that? Well, Charles and I spent some time after school yesterday dissecting the Undefeated Champion from its few fights and eyewitness testimony from Academy engineers. Long story short, each IS registered in the Academy was required to have regular maintenance checks by either the school or a third party. Since Tabane built the Undefeated Champion, that meant the former option... Uh. Thinking about all the specifics gives me a headache, so I'll stop there. After all, there are more important issues.

Mainly that was our opponents, "I had to put up with you and your lazy antics for nearly an entire month, and this is how you treat me? You truly are a disappointment Hikigaya Hachiman, but you can redeem yourself by being a good pawn and acting as my shield." It seemed that Laura's gratitude soured into exasperation at Hachiman's actions. She must have thought he would have helped earlier. I guess I could understand her frustration since teammates are supposed to help each other. For example, take Charles and I; she taught me some things about long-range combat and a brief overview of the AIC, among other things, while I, in turn, showed her the Ignition Boost… That might not be the fairest trade, but you get the point. I swear I'm not leeching off Charles… hah, hah, hah.

"..." Hachiman ignored his teammate's protests, pulled out the bow attached to his back, and summoned an arrow, preparing his attack... Ok, what could he be planning: the [Stealth Gambit], [Hyper Beam], or was it something else entirely? The first two options seemed unlikely as they are relatively easy to counter and risky for him to use. Just like Reiraku Byakuya, they cost shield energy to activate and are most effective at close range, which happened to be my specialty.

"Come on, Hachiman, we don't have to do this, right? Didn't you say you were a pacifist? Let's deescalate the situation and take things slowly," I tried reasoning with my former roommate in an attempt to stall for time. Charles quickly caught onto my plan and started slowly moving toward Laura to eliminate her while she was distracted. Hopefully, Hachiman wouldn't figure out my ruse and allow us to isolate him.

Even if he had more shield energy than us, a numbers advantage could close the gap and allow our team to win. As I said earlier, the Undefeated Champion struggled in multiple engagements compared to Schwarzen Regen, and we somehow countered that, meaning nothing was impossible.

"Trying to outmaneuver me, Dunois?" Hachiman noticed Charles' subtle approach and stopped her by steadying his aim, pulling back the bowstring with the arrow... Tch, he pretty much locked us in place just like the AIC did, and didn't he need a complicated one-off ability to do so.

"So Hachiman, are we doing this the easy way or..."

"Spare me the dramatics; they're simply a waste of time," the three of us squared off in a standoff, waiting for the first to make a move. Why am I acting so cautiously? Hachiman's demeanor: the dark tint of his IS sunglasses hiding his eyes, his unreadable expression, and his dry tone all felt offputting. It kind of reminded me of yesterday's after-school incident; his flawless logic forced me to stand down and watch him take care of things from afar just like so many other times in IS Academy, he led, and I could only follow... Tch, how frustrating.

"..." I shared a glance with Charles, and we both nodded at each other, reaching the same conclusion. We needed to avoid the arrow in his bow. Call it intuition or some premonition, but something kept bothering me. There was more than meets the eye to Hachiman.

"Finish the job already, Hachiman! Prove them the futility of their "teamwork" and idealistic delusions," Laura fed up with our inaction, tried pushing him to break the stalemate.

"Crackle," in response, Hachiman's arrow started changing, slowly darkening and sparking with electricity. Is he trying to use a variation of the [Hyper Beam], substituting a projectile for a blast, or is this all a farce and an attempt at psychological warfare? I wouldn't put it past him to exercise either option with his previous fights in mind... *sigh* And to think I thought this battle was going smoothly.

"If you will not act, Hachiman, I'll force your hand!" Laura exclaimed as she pointed her railgun at me, charging one final blast, eliminating Byakushiki. What to do, what to do? If I don't move, Laura will hit me, but Hachiman might try something if I move. It's not like Charles can help me with that mysterious arrow in play.

Is this truly the end? That would mean Laura was right, strength only amounted to brutish violence, and I was unworthy of having the Orimura name. Yet, she was wrong, and I had to prove it to her.

"That would be unnecessary, Bodewig," Hachiman responded, with his voice, bitterly cold.

"Why?" Laura answered, slightly unnerved.

"Because," he paused, his expression hidden by his IS's shadow, "Your fight ends here," and then continued with an ominous statement... So does that mean he won't help Laura or is this reverse psychology?... I'm surprised Hachiman doesn't gamble; he has an incredible poker face.

"What are you talking about," his partner spoke. So she is as clueless as everyone else. I know you call yourself the King of Loners, but would it kill you to be a team player, Hachiman?

"Exactly what I implied," and to everyone's shock Hikigaya Hachiman did the unthinkable, turning his weapon on Laura. Wait, what's going on; he can't be serious?

"We're supposed to be on the same side. Are you so incompetent that you cannot understand basic instructions?" Laura rambled, rightfully exasperation with the situation. Despite their rocky relationship, she assumed there was a level of trust between them that would prevent a mutiny. Sure, she pushed Hachiman a little too far while they were training, but no one's perfect, right?

"Tsk, tsk, Laura Bodewig, and to think you're the strongest pilot. How does it feel to have all your hopes and dreams dashed? Painful, disappointing, frustrating, isn't it?" Hachiman admonished his teammate, his tone resembling a cartoon villain, seemingly larger than life. While his expression also changed from cold indifference to a smug smirk. He looked like a different person, acting in a way I had never seen before.

"Hachiman, what are you doing? This recklessness isn't like you!" Concerned with his behavior, I spoke up, hoping to reason with him. The Hachiman I know always believed in sound reasoning, so he'll realize his mistake once I-

"Don't talk to me like you know me, Orimura Ichika," he barked, quashing any hopes of de-escalation. "If anything, I'm doing you a favor right now, so sit back and enjoy the show," Hachiman further explained, forcing me to stand down... This situation was just like before, he had all the cards, while I had nothing...

"Crackle!" With no one looking to interrupt him, my former roommate pulled the arrow back, whose color kept darkening, approaching a midnight black color while the sparks around the projectile intensified. How much power was inside that arrow?... I wish Byakushiki could do something that flashy.

"No, you can't do this, Hachiman! Do you not understand what winning this fight means to me? He {Ichika} doesn't deserve to be associated with Instructor and is only holding her back," Laura argued, attempting to convince Hachiman to change his mind. Maybe an emotional appeal would work against others, but not Hachiman... Especially with how is he now.

"Blah, blah, blah, I don't care about your little sob story. Do you not realize what's happening, Bodewig? I outplayed you, a disciplined soldier, without even trying. So much for that childish dream of yours. Becoming the Next Brunhilde, I'd like to see you try. Hah, hah, hah!" He declared, conducting himself in an unlikable fashion, trampling over his teammate's goals... It doesn't make sense. What could have pushed him so far? I tried searching for an explanation for Hachiman's mood, but none came to mind... And to think I called myself his closest friend.

"D-don't think you can get away with this, Hikigaya Hachiman!" Laura stammered, her normally calm disposition had cracked, her face now slightly flushed in anger.

"Resorting to empty threats, I expected better from you, Bodewig. Emotional and linear progression, the true sign of a fool!"

"Y-you're using my own words against me?" She gasped.

"I would love to stay and chat but... Take this, Meteor Strike!" Hachiman exclaimed as he fired the arrow. It sailed towards its target. Laura feebly tried to dodge the attack but lacked the shield energy to move and was left stationary.

"Boom!" A loud noise enveloped Arena 3 once the arrow hit Laura and consumed her in a plume of black smoke.

"..." Words cannot describe the audience's reception to his deed; the entire arena was silent, everyone in shock, staring at one man... He completely trampled over the notion of fair sportsmanship and teamwork. I know you like your personal space, Hachiman, but was it so valuable to sacrifice your social standing?

"It's over," with one fell swoop, Hikigaya Hachiman became IS Academy's least popular student. I guess he now indeed was the King of Loners.

Infinite Loner

Author's Note: Is that how it ends, a cliffhanger? I can't believe the author... Ok, I'll stop playing around. Welcome back; did you enjoy the chapter? Please leave your thoughts in a review so I can improve Infinite Loner and combat any glaring issues. If you liked the story, favorite, follow, or share. Now for my thoughts on this chapter, I initially didn't want to split it, but procrastination believed otherwise, and I like leaving the reading thinking. Why did Hachiman attack Laura, what is the [Meteor Strike], or even [Plan B] for that matter?... Regardless, part 2 is shaping up to be my best work yet, as I try to take Infinite Loner in a different direction. This attempt might fail horribly, but that's just life, right? You try a bunch of new things and see what works; that line of thinking ultimately led to me writing this story, so anything is possible... As for writing most of the chapter from Ichika's POV, I wanted to highlight the differences between this story and canon IS. Sure, most of the pieces in play for the tag-team match (Ichika, Laura, Charles) are the same, but their interactions are different due to Hachiman's presence and, more importantly, Houki's absence. Especially with Laura's transformation coming up, how could things end is still up in the air...

Before I sign off, I'd like to thank everyone for reading Infinite Loner, whether it only be the 1st chapter or making it all the way here to part 17. Maybe this story isn't for you, but there's a whole world of fanfiction out there, whether Oregairu or Infinite Stratos crossovers or something else entirely; there is probably something incredible waiting for you to read. And if there isn't, you can write your own story. It may start rough, and be riddled with grammatical errors or dated references, but try it anyway. Some of my initial drafts were unique (read: borderline unreadable), and I turned out okay. I'm sorry if I sound preachy, but I always wanted to say this but could never accurately articulate it until now.

In any case, I've been Mayflower Productions, and until next time, I'll catch you on the flipside.

Preview:

"Your older brother must have it hard, doesn't he, Komachi-chan?"

"I don't get it, why does she hate us so much? We're just trying to get by in this crazy world."

"That's just the deck we've been dealt as pilots, Ichika. Sometimes our existence is enough to attract trouble... no matter how hard we try to avoid it."

"Ichika, are you okay!"

"Disable competition limiter."

"Maybe he could win?"

"No, I highly doubt your enthusiasm. That brat is only running on fumes."

"Prove to me you're more than a fake, Laura Bodewig!"

"I will make you regret those words!"

"S-she looks just like her... I won't stand for this!"

"What went wrong? This isn't what I had in mind?"

"Take this, you imposter!"

"Why, no matter what I do... is my high school life so wrong?"

"Valkyrie Trace System Activated!"

"Next time on Infinite Loner- Chapter 17 Part 2: Ignoring The Consequences, Their Youths Carry On."

"I can help others, what a pitiful joke. Today has only proved what happens when you fly too close to the sun...You get burned."

Chapter End