Chapter 17 Part 2: Ignoring the Consequences, Their Youths Carry on
Foreword: Well, well, well, look who decided to reappear after all these months... Is what you {the reader} are probably thinking while looking at this page. However, let's put those thoughts on hold for now, and pivot to more important matters... Infinite Loner is back, everyone! And not as some half-finished, cobbled-together state masquerading as an "Extra Chapter" either, but the real deal. For everyone at home keeping score, over a year has passed since the last part, and a few more since the arc's inception. Hopefully, today's installment is worth the long wait... Oh, my manners, how could I forget? This is Mayflower Productions, introducing the latest edition of Infinite Loner, and the long-delayed conclusion to the Transfer Student arc. I have been looking forward to reaching this point for a while now, but can hardly believe that we've made it here: the second half of the Tournament match, where everything goes wrong... I'll stop there to not ruin all the suspense. Today's chapter has many moving parts, parallel storylines, numerous perspectives, a dynamic tone, and a large word count... But I feel like no one should be shocked at this point. In any case, thank you, everyone, for continuing to show this story support, despite my long hiatus, and seeming disinterest in uploading. Let it be known that your sustained engagement, helped me power through a few "creative struggles" (read: nearly rewriting the chapter from scratch), and keep running toward the finish line... I genuinely appreciate the support, and look forward to the future and the new heights this story can reach, especially when the six-digit view count is in sight... but you didn't hear it from me. There may also be a few points of view that do not have names attached to them and was completely intentional. You have been warned...In any case, that is enough rambling on my part, and onto the show... Lights, camera, action! Infinite Loner Chapter 17 Part 2: Ignoring the Consequences, Their Youths Carry on is on the scene!
Infinite Loner- line break, [The Weapon]- POV shift/ indicator (Laura Bodewig), "Get away from him, you homewrecker!"- 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 World Watches With Bated Breath
[The Supporter]
"Emotional and linear progression, the true sign of a fool!" His voice echoes from the tv screen. Why does my brother act this way? A blissful life was at his fingertips, one where he could move on from his past, make friends, and possibly find that special someone... which may or may not be my goal... But no, he chose the most antisocial option, making himself the bad guy, all but canceling the future Onee-chan race... Even if he occasionally called himself a "Monster of Logic," his methods rarely seem to be the most straightforward or rational. Especially since he wanted to become a househusband of all things.
"I would love to stay and chat, but... Take this, Meteor Strike!" My brother exclaims with a creepy grin on his face and his voice resembling a larger-than-life villain... I can already tell where this impression came from. A part of him is probably grateful for reading all those light novels. I, for sure, am not, with the "questionable" cover illustrations. If I wasn't such an understanding little sister, I might be concerned for his future... Teehee~!
"Senpai must have it hard with his personality, doesn't he, Komachi-chan?" Iroha-senpai commented beside me, slightly grimacing. The two of us were at my house quietly watching the tournament and had enjoyed the two previous fights. I knew onii-chan said his classmates were impressive people but seeing their talent in action was much different than hearing about it. It was incredible that my brother could be associated with so many prodigies since he is you know… gomi-chan (Translator's Note: portmanteau between "trash" and "older brother," sorry for not explaining that earlier). Despite my earlier complaints, his current exploits challenged my preconceived notions of him since he effectively held his far stronger teammate hostage with minimum effort. It required him to hover around the combat like a vulture circling its prey, but the ends justify the means. Maybe he's not so hopeless after all... However, this is the same person who spent whole days binging some creepy visual novel... Endless Memory? Infinite Romance?... I think he ended up crying near the end of it... How disgusting... But, it's not like I'll judge him for his interests. That has to be worth something, right?
"I guess that's just his grimy personality at work," I shrugged while replying. He could have had an ideal high school life, but solitude must be too tempting for him.
"Grimy might not be the best way to put it... Senpai strikes me more as a rotten, apathetic person," she commented, highlighting my brother's empty expression on the television.
"You have no idea," I sighed all too familiar with that description. Would it kill him to fix his posture or his jaded outlook on society?... But that's what makes onii-chan, onii-chan. He might not be the perfect brother, but he is the only one I have. I should probably cherish him even with all his faults... Ooh, that has to be worth a lot of points!
Infinite Loner
[The Dreamer]
"Emotional and linear progression…" My ally exclaimed with a fierce grin. I understood his anger more than anyone… Commoners, or should I say the masses, were uncomfortable with the unfamiliar and actively alienate it. Hachiman much like myself did not have an ideal youth, facing disdain and betrayal time and time again. That factor partially led to our crossing paths and the birth of our fruitful relationship, but I digress.
"Hah!" Watching his wide grin broadcast across the airwaves felt slightly off-putting. Sure, we both didn't see eye to eye with riajuu, but he never lashed out so violently. If I wasn't mistaken he could have passed for a broken warrior rather than any war god. One whose heart may have submerged in an inky darkness. There had to be something more influencing Hachiman. One of his many titles did include the Duke of Deception...
"As always my ally, your strategies are but one step beyond me," I murmured. Hopefully, he wasn't making his social standing any worse. Despite my seemingly unwavering passion, I knew that his position was unenviable, being surrounded by hostile entities with negligible assistance. I knew for certain such an environment would smother my personality, leaving only a lifeless husk of a man. However, if anyone could withstand all that adversity it would be him, my fated rival and friend, Hikigaya Hachiman.
"If you could deal with me for all those months, IS Academy should be a breeze," I quietly remarked, smirking.
Infinite Loner
Interlude End
Infinite Loner
[The Loner]
Success… The reaching of a longtime goal or accomplishment. Everyone has their own targets they strive to meet: improve their grades, learn a new skill, make 100 friends, become a Pokemon Master… Wait, one of those goals doesn't belong… especially when it reminds me of the Undefeated Champion's potential inspirations. Perhaps Tabane thought giving me an electric personality would somehow make me IS Academy's mascot character… Maybe for pessimism and not the one she thought about.
Now, where was I?... It had taken significant planning, and a pinch of luck, but I also found success. In what way, you may ask? Clearing Orimura-sensei's nearly impossible quest without losing my mind or individuality. When she asked (read: demanded) for my cooperation…
[Flashback]
"Don't overthink it, Hikigaya. All you need to know is that I had my reasons and that your current mission is to help Bodewig. You've seen her warped personality, and I fear it could implode at any moment."
[Flashback End]
I was initially blindsided. What connection did she see between me and her crazed former pupil? More importantly, why was I expected to be her therapist? She might have forgotten, but my EQ (emotional intelligence) was average at best… especially when you factored in my "wonderful" middle school experience. I saw her order as a troublesome hindrance to my goal of a quiet life, yet seconds later… everything just clicked into place. And at that moment, Plan B was born
Looking back on it now, this might have been my greatest creation ever, even surpassing the likes of Stealth Hikki, the jewel of my 108 Loner Skills. I wouldn't be surprised if years later historians point to Plan B as the point when I claimed my throne as the King of Loners… Ok, that might be slight hyperbole, but could you blame me? It's not very often when life goes my way, after all… Thanks to those Rom-com Gods.
"..."
"..."
"..." Where is this deafening silence coming from? It's nice to see everyone practice loner etiquette, but some noise is acceptable, you know~? Unlike space, ordinary life is no vacuum, you know~?
"W-why did you do it?" I heard a voice whisper, its volume was nearly inaudible.
"..." Turning my gaze to the source, I notice an interesting sight. My former roommate and current adversary, Orimura Ichika, was trying (and failing) to look at me plainly. Numerous emotions vied for dominance on his face, but it seemed that confusion and frustration were winning out. He clenched his fist and kept giving side glances to his side, where…
"..." A crater lied, housing the defeated form of Laura Bodewig.
"Hachiman, what was the point of this... spectacle!?" Ichika asked (read: nearly demanded), his uncharacteristic intensity almost unnerving… Where is this animosity coming from, buddy? I thought we were (not) the best of friends.
Briefly scanning my surroundings, I noticed that Dunois' shared his teammate's confusion, yet his expression had a hint of… Is that pity? Why would that blonde gentleman of all people, feel bad for me, the nameless commoner? This is an outrage and upsets the natural social hierarchy! The apex predator should hold no sympathy for an insignificant producer. Especially when his slightly pained look resembles the kind transfer student from Infinite Romance… Ok, brain, now is not the time to bring up that experience. I really do not need any more side tangents distracting me from pressing matters like…
Recognizing how large swaths of the crowd were speechless in disbelief at the sight they just witnessed. Thanks to the Undefeated Champion's onboard telescopic vision, I could pinpoint the makings of deep frowns on some of my impressionable classmates… It won't take too long for these chickens to come home to roost then... Luckily, I'm not too averse to enjoying a few omelets.
I know this gesture may appear impertinent on my part, but… Hooray! Victory is mine this time, Rom-Com Gods! Hah, hah, hah! The Monster of Logic never fails!...
Ahem. Ignoring that temporary lapse in judgment, I refocused on the matter at hand.
"Hachiman, how could you?" Addressing one lost Orimura Ichika.
"Huh, are you talking to me, Ichika?"
"You sacrificed your partner!" He exclaimed, sounding unusually animated for someone who had a free helping hand for his 1st round fight. What do I mean? Unlike most magicians, I guess I could share a few of my secrets after the fact. It's not like anyone could be listening in to my monologues, or something… Please, let that not be an awful form of foreshadowing.
Plan B… Or should I say, Plan Bodewig, if being specific. It had such a simple premise: "help" my emotionally challenged (read: crazy) classmate before it was too late. She had an unhealthily large ego, which could have disastrous consequences if it popped… and was almost realized yesterday during a training exercise… It didn't help that she was excessively obsessed with Orimura-sensei, and worshipped the very ground she stood on… Ok, that was again slight hyperbole. You didn't have to be a licensed therapist to see the bright red flags she wore on her sleeve… If given the opportunity, even Ichika could have realized these faultlines.
Therefore, I sought to address her issues in a controlled environment, and turn her social life on its head… Look at me now, trying to help my peers make friends. Komachi must be so proud of her onii-chan… That has to be worth a ton of Hachiman points!
My experience with popularity might not be the best (read: worst moments of my life), but I have read enough material to know how important camaraderie could be. Other students were currently wary of approaching Bodewig due to her prickly personality and distant persona. However, everything would change if her stoicism were to be recontextualized as a naive emulation of the Brunhilde, a respected and celebrated figure. She would be showered in sympathy and no longer seen as an outcast but an endearing lone wolf. As if there was anything that brought IS Academy students together, it would be deifying Orimura Chifuyu… There's no better example than the Orimura Ichika Fan Club… Do I need to say more?
But how was such a change to be made? It wasn't as if Bodewig herself would initiate. She could care less about something as insignificant as social standing. And that is where I came in. For the past few days, I had acted as a lightning rod for my roommate, channeling all of her negative energy with my behavior: whether by ignoring her, hiding, pretending she doesn't exist, sometimes calling her cute while she slept… Uh… The point was that I primed her to be as irate as possible for the day's match, the means to such an end were not necessarily important… especially for my sanity's sake. I did not want to give my sister any more potential ammunition about my love life... she could be annoying as is.
Once the tournament arrived, I would give Bodewig free rein to fight our opponents. Thankfully, we were facing Team Orimura, the ideal matchup. My tournament partner may be strong, but not enough to overcome two personal IS pilots with some halfway-decent chemistry. She may get in a few good hits, but defeat to those two was nearly certain... since unlike another certain pair, they had a semblance of spatial awareness. I would accidentally (read: intentionally) not make much of an effort to intervene, making double-teaming Bodewig the obvious plan of attack.
Her shield energy points would then drop, raising her stress levels and emotional tension. When at its peak, or right before her defeat, I would miraculously reappear on the scene, giving her a fleeting sense of hope. Unfortunately for her, my presence was not benevolent, as I toy with her emotions, forcing her to admit her deepest goals to sway me, and I then eliminate her, shocking everyone. The suddenness and seeming cruelty of it all would have multiple effects: one, recasting myself as the villain, two, rehabilitating Laura Bodewig as a tragic maiden, mistreated by her peer, the dastardly good-looking Hikgiaya Hachiman, and three, opening Bodewig's eye(s) to reality's grey-colored nature, where her binary notions about strength were misguided and childish... In the ensuing chaos of my actions, I would covertly surrender the match, granting the opposing team a victory.
Overall, in this scenario, everyone wins. Orimura-sensei gets her more emotionally mature student, Bodewig is spared an uncomfortable mental breakdown where her ideals are violently shattered and she gains a small following, Team Orimura doesn't have an overly-dramatic fight, and I can finally slink into the shadows, being alienated by a large percentage of the student body... an effective social suicide in all but name. However, that tidbit was not my initial aim from this plan or anything, since it would make me appear anti-social, which I am obviously not... Hah, hah, hah!
"Why, even if she…" Ichika weakly added, unable to fully form his thoughts.
"Flailed and made a fit when things didn't go her way on the battlefield. Naively believed the world revolved around her, pitifully stove to emulate the peerless Orimura-sensei." I shrugged, listing off numerous harsh (but valid) points, to fill the silence… Am I enjoying playing into my character too much? No, of course not… That would make me a sociopath… although…
"Valkyrie Trace System Activated!" A loud mechanical voice boomed. Strange, if I wasn't mistaken, that noise sounded like an IS. However, none of the remaining fighters had moved since… she was eliminated… Uh oh…
"No, no, no…" I muttered under my breath, sweating bullets… of all the cliches to be followed and bad endings to reach… it had to be the worst possible option. What was the point in even trying to fight them? Where there was a will, there was a way, and those Rom-com Gods were out to get me.
"Whoosh!" The wind started picking up from the ominous crater in Arena 3, forming a small dust vortex. If one paid close attention to the sight, they would notice an eerie yellow glow… There was only one person capable of such a sight.
"Hachiman, what's going on?" Immediately recognizing my concern, Ichika opened up a private communication channel with me.
"Uh…" I trailed, struggling to find a way to piece my thoughts into coherent sentences.
"Hikigaya-san, you seem to know something. Do you care to answer?" Dunois chimed in.
"I would tell you, but…" Before I could say more, a shadow rose from the dust cloud, exuding a stifling pressure.
"..."
"..."
"..." The three of us remained silent, all anxiously waiting to figure out the mysterious figure's identity… Ok, the answer is obvious, but I've always wanted to be in one of those "the silence was chilling" situations. As a loner, I never had many opportunities for these types of group events. Unless it was visiting a haunted house with Komachi who laughed off every sight, while I struggled to maintain composure… Why does my little sister have to be so brave?... She ruined all of the dramatic suspense.
The dust settled, revealing a shocking sight: the Schwarzen Regen somehow still deployed was surrounded by an electric field… not too dissimilar to the likes of Super Saiyan 2, but I digress. More important than the machine itself was its pilot, who was riddled with wounds and missing her trademark eyepatch. Her two eyes, one crimson red and the other a rich golden, somewhat resembling a clock… Hold on, did I have everything all wrong, and she wasn't actually a super soldier but a Spirit? All she needs is a goth Lolita dress and a flintlock pistol, to be a perfect match…
"Hikigaya Hachiman and Orimura Ichika," the German pilot growled, her glare locked onto the world's first two male pilots. I knew better than to stand still in this situation, but her look made it impossible to move. Despite my claims of always avoiding troublesome outcomes, I kept finding myself walking into them… at this point, Yukinoshita should call me Fukougaya-kun instead of the usual Bakagaya-kun (Translator's Note: misfortune or unlucky instead of idiotic)…
"Orimura, Dunois, Hikigaya, retreat now! We're getting readings from Bodewig which should not be possible!..." Due to my inaction, I failed to miss the telltale signs of an Arena lockdown, Orimura-sensei incessantly blaring over a communication channel, and all the potential exits sealing.
"AH!" Instead, I was distracted by Laura Bodewig blaring her lungs out, the electric field around her growing brighter, coursing with unknown energy... Where did all her newfound power come from? Her shield energy was nearly zero a few minutes ago. Soon, Schwarzen Regen buckled under all the pressure and started melting, losing its original form for a tar-like complexion. The personal IS sludge then slowly consumed its pilot, muffling her screams.
"Crack!" Lightning struck, presumably from the transformation, forming a smokescreen around my current roommate. Schwarzen Regen effectively disappeared once it devoured Bodewig, the pair devolving into a shadowy vaguely humanoid shape. In a fashion straight out of a monster movie, the blob twisted and contorted into another form... of course, paired with disturbing crunching and sloshing sounds... I don't think I'm having sweet dreams tonight.
After a few moments of squishing and squashing, the pilot-machine mixture started settling on a form... an IS pilot. I quickly noticed the long dark hair, stoic expression, and the bladed weapon in their grasp... this combination was one I was all too familiar with from old photos and enthusiastic recollections from certain individuals... But I probably wasn't the only person here to make such a connection.
"Chifuyu-nee!"
"Nee-san." Especially when the source of all my knowledge was right next to me.
Infinite Loner
[The Weapon]
"I would love to stay and chat, but... Take this, Meteor Strike!"
Revenge.
I wanted revenge.
The moment he released the bow, the sensation overcame me... pure loathing consumed my entire being.
They would pay... he would pay for what he did.
We were supposed to have understood each other. Reached a mutual understanding about this competition. I had my goals, and he had his... But it seemed that I was the only one to feel that way... siding with that mistake over myself. Betraying the modest expectations I had for him: an outsider, who stood above the riffraff and could see my point of view... Perhaps even become a friend or something more...
Power. I need more power to prove them wrong. The Schwarzen Regen was practically empty while the others had significant reserves...
"Do you wish for power?" A mechanical voice asked, ringing in my mind.
"Yes." I immediately replied... no matter the consequences, I would take any avenue to triumph and prove to them all the true meaning of strength...
The naive Frenchman flaunting around his outdated machine, the mistake pretending to be someone he is clearly not, Hachiman... no, the mistake's friend, an opportunistic charlatan incapable of following directions or seeing the bigger picture, and especially her, my misguided Instructor.
"Very well... Valkyrie Trace System Activated!"
Infinite Loner
[The Protagonist]
Have you ever felt unsettled before? It could be as simple as a few hairs standing on edge or a churning feeling in your stomach. You could be sleeping one night, unknowing of the large test waiting the next day, but conversely not have sweet dreams. The subconscious was somehow aware of information the conscious mind doesn't know. People far smarter than me could probably explain these sensations away using cognitive science, psychological studies, etcetera. What brought on my long tirade about foreboding? I guess there are two answers: one, I randomly found an article about the topic while mindlessly scrolling on my phone to calm down before the match, and two...
"That hair, those eyes, her figure..." My body was showing all the signs of apprehension. Watching my German classmate's unnerving transformation, I picked out a few telling signs. As the dark blob solidified, it gained a female form, one I was very familiar with... After all, I spent the last 15 years chasing after her.
"Chifuyu-nee!"
"Nee-san!" And it seems that I wasn't the only one, either, as Hachiman made the same realization. Somehow Laura Bodewig had disappeared and was replaced by an impeccable copy of Chifuyu-nee in an IS unit. The only difference from my memories is her shadowy complexion, lacking any of her usual warmth.
"..." I felt unusually angry looking at Laura. The world's strongest IS pilot, lauded across the world, and nearly unstoppable at her peak. Laura's trump card was copying her...she can't be serious here, right? It's like she was trying to play a game... Let's see how long she can test my patience; are you ready? Get set... GO!
"Who do you think you are?" I roared, reactivating Yukihira Nigata, and charged at her, blinded by rage.
"..." Without saying a word, Laura or the fake Chifuyu-nee, deployed her weapon, an ebony-colored Yukihira, my sister's sword of choice... How could she have this? Nee-san hasn't flown in an IS for years... At least as far as I know, with how much information she has been hiding from me lately, I can't be certain about anything these days.
"Crash!" The two blades clashed for a moment, the original versus its spiritual successor. However, the junior wasn't so lucky this time as I was soon overpowered and sent flying. I hastily regained control before crashing, roughly returning to where I started, near the other pilots.
Not sparing a single opportunity, Laura rushed at me, her shadowy blade keen on draining my remaining shield energy... never one to idle... just what Chifuyu-nee always said... She really is trying to be her, huh?
"You always went on about strength, claiming to be strongest 1st year, yet here you are now... unable to win without putting on a mask," I bitterly remarked, devoid of any enthusiasm or positivity. My grip tightened on Yukihira Nigata, amping myself up for a counterattack.
"Ichika now is not the time for this!" However, before I make another move, Charles dragged me away from our opponent... What does she think she's doing? I have to stop this faker, while I still can... Her current form is a disgrace to Chifuyu-nee's good name. As her younger brother, I cannot let this injustice stand!
"You can air your dirty laundry later!" Hachiman seconded, acting as a distractor for Laura, rushing in front of us. She redirected targets and set her sights on him, driving home another slash. He quickly dodged, narrowly avoiding her attack.
"Leave me alone, Charles! I won't allow Laura to get away with copying Chifuyu-nee! Who does she think she is? I'll smash her face in!" I growled, desperately trying to break my roommate's grip to rejoin the fight.
"Calm down, Ichika! Your emotions are clouding your judgment." She warned, hoping her words would calm me down.
"I don't care! There are some matters where you can't back down!" Unfortunately for her, I wasn't feeling very cooperative right now. I broke free of her grip and dashed into the battle.
"Why do you have to be so stubborn now?" Sighing, Charles deemed it necessary to assist me, summoning a shotgun, closely following my lead.
"..." Ignoring her complaint, I focused on landing a blow to the transformed pilot. I settled on a diagonal slash once I was in striking distance.
"Crash!" Laura recognized my threat and tried pivoting out of the way. She was too slow, and my sword landed a solid hit on her, forcing her back a decent distance.
"And to think I'd see the day when Orimura Ichika broke character," Hachiman commented, having drifted to my side.
"Do you plan on helping this time, or should I expect another disappearing act?" I replied, my voice not betraying a hint of friendliness.
"...sister complex..."
"Oi, I heard that! It's not my fault Laura has a twisted attachment to Chifuyu-nee." I complained, not pleased with his snide remark.
"Alright you two, how about we fight now, and argue later?" Charles interjected, pointing toward the incoming Laura (not Chifuyu-nee).
"Agreed."
"Fine." The three of us geared up for another battle; this one seeming to be far tougher than the previous... Well, look on the bright side, Ichika. We can finally show Laura the true meaning of strength, and give her a friendly reminder of what happens when she messes with nee-san... Bad things... are what will happen
"Hachiman, you support the rear line, while Charles you're with me!" I ordered, unconsciously taking charge of our small group. This tendency was probably due to genetics. Chifuyu-nee was never one to play the second fiddle.
"Whatever."
"Ok, Ichika."
"Orimura Ichika, Charles Dunois, and Hikigaya Hachiman... I will crush you three into oblivion!" From across the field, the possessed Laura exclaimed, her voice equal parts the German pilot and my sister... Uh, now that's a combination I never wanted to think about... Sadly, I don't think I can erase this memory.
"That will never happen!" I answered, pointing my weapon at her to emphasize my claim... just as much to myself as her.
Infinite Loner
[The Loner]
[Minutes Later]
[Undefeated Champion: Shield Energy- 70/100%]
[Rafeal Revive (Custom II): Shield Energy- 25/100% (Warning!)]
[Byakushiki: Shield Energy- 10/100% (Danger!)]
[Schwarzen Regen (Valkyrie Trace): Shield Energy- 90/100%]
Defense wins champions.
The line refers to a common sports convention about successful teams. Apparently stopping the other side from scoring was more conducive to winning than maximizing point output. Even though both approaches theoretically have the same effect of raising the score differential, one was far more effective than the other. Why did such a notion persist? What was so special about the defensive side of sports?... It's not like I was very familiar with team competitions anyway, thanks to my loner lifestyle... not that no one wanted to play with me when I was younger due to my fish eyes. The other kids always conveniently had an even number of players when I asked, and were not interested in substitutions. This forced me to learn how to play by myself, which wasn't pathetic...
Where was this monologue going again?... Oh, yes. No matter how high the odds were stacked, being able to react quickly was far more valuable than acting. What does that mean? Taking the second step is easier than the first, the moment before a rollercoaster drop always felt more suspenseful than after, and rejecting a confession takes far less effort than making the proposition... one of those moments might be from personal experience.
So after Ichika ordered his personal pilot charge against Bodewig, the results wouldn't be surprising. My two allies (read: reluctant collaborators) had all but exhausted their shield energy and I had lost a significant portion while our adversary looked no worse for wear. We had bashed our heads against an impervious object and obviously paid a price.
"This was your genius idea, a blitz? Do you not remember what happened last time?" I asked our leader once the corrupted Bodewig and nee-san combination had sent us back for the umpteenth time.
"We chipped off 10% of her shield energy. That's more than zero."
"And wouldn't you know, rounding 10 to the nearest hundred is... zero." I rolled my eyes, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I don't see you coming up with any bright ideas... Monster of Logic."
"..." I scratched my cheek, avoiding eye contact... of all the times to bring that name up, it had to be now... and especially by him.
I know well how responsible I was for this disaster. My hastily devised Plan B drove Bodewig into this corner, pushing her superiority complex to its breaking point. The Rom-com Gods' rare nod my way didn't help either. Perhaps if we had faced Team Orimura later on, I could have refined my plans or even dropped them all together for something... more constructive.
After all, what was the plan's entire purpose?... To revamp her image and personality. And who came up with it... The same guy who misunderstood every gesture sent his way in middle school, confessed to a girl who barely knew he existed, and decided to paint a giant target on his back after doing so.
All today has proved is one truth. Fool me once, shame on you... Fool me twice, shame on... me.
If our group wanted any chance of winning, let alone living, we needed a change of pace. Our main offensive weapons (Dunois and Orimura) were on the verge of defeat, which would leave me defenseless and overmatched. I had no tools at my disposal to counter the Bodewig, nee-san combination... that title is such a mouthful... I need a shorter name... Oh, I have one... the Nisehilde (Translator's Note: the combination of "fake" and Brunhilde) who presumably knew all of our teacher's techniques. If my previous tutelage under her is anything to go by...
[Flashback]
"Why do we *gaps for air* have to run so much?... This exercise routine is insane..."
"Oh, you still have something to say, Hikigaya-kun? I guess these laps must not be enough for you... maybe a few more should be in order?"
"What? Are you serious, Orimura-san?"
"That's nee-san to you, brat! And pick up the pace! Ichika is already ahead of you, Hikigaya."
"But he's..."
*glare intensifies* "..."
"Ok, nee-san."
"Good. I like boys who listen."
[Flashback End]
A 20-point shield energy difference may as well be an endless chasm. This Nisehilde probably doesn't even need her hands to dispatch me. That was how vast the experience and skill gap was between us. I could believe in myself as much as I wanted, but this was one problem no amount of hard work could rectify. Therefore, I had to reluctantly turn to others to solve this dilemma... despite my immense aversion to such a prospect.
"Ichika," I called after clearing my throat, dispelling any earlier tension. Now was not the time to criticize his past decisions, let alone my own. The three of us had a greater priority in disabling the Nisehilde and resolving the Arena lockdown. Judging from the shielding around the spectator seating and IS Hangar, this was probably another high-level situation, making outside help difficult to come by... would it have killed someone to add some override code to this procedure? I would love to not be willingly placed in another life-or-death scenario, you know~? Does an unknown and unmanned violet IS ring a bell?... Ok, I'll stop with the teasing... it's not like anyone can hear me right now.
"What is it?"
"Do you have any other plans?" I replied, quickly sliding out of the Nisehilde's strike zone, her blade slicing through where I was seconds ago.
"..." Our impromptu leader remained silent, his face scrunching in frustration... I know that look... he's thinking about something.
"Silence is doing no one any favors. Spit it out already!" I demanded, wanting to know his thoughts.
"It wouldn't work," he finally answered, muttering, having sprinted away, avoiding another sword slash... What does he mean?... Oh, wait, the answer is clear...
[Reiraku Byakuya]
The Byakushiki's unique One-off Ability, and Orimura Ichika's signature move. It had devastating power like the [Hyper Beam], able to quickly eliminate any machine, no matter its shield energy reading, with its barrier disabling property. Unlike my skill though, [Reiraku Byakuya] channeled through a weapon and not a projectile, making it the ideal attack in close-quarters combat... which we "conveniently" happened to be in...
If it wasn't for my self-inflicted mess of a plan causing this disaster, I would have thought this fight was planned by higher powers. Laura Bodewig loses control, morphing into a corrupted version of the Brunhilde, and wouldn't you know, Byakushiki, Orimura Ichika's machine, is the only one who could stop her? Doesn't this all just read like fiction? The rest of the story practically writes itself.
Although, the potential author of such a scenario may have missed a few minor details. One of which is that Ichika was in no state to use [Reiraku Byakuya], since it cannibalized his own power. He needed a certain level of shield energy to activate the Ability, due to its destructive capability. If he lacked the "activation energy" the move would not fire, but instead drain his machine, leaving him a sitting duck to the Nisehilde... and it's not like these Author Gods would be so kind to leave around any means to a deus ex machina.
"So Ichika's dilemma centers around a lack of shield energy, no?" Dunois interjects, summoning a shield to block the Nisehilde, stopping her attack in its tracks, if only barely.
"Yes, but it's not like he can miraculously recover power during a fight," I elaborated, firing a few arrows to gain our opponent's attention. She quickly notices and redirects her efforts, forcing me into retreat.
"You may have forgotten, Hikigaya-san, but our Infinite Stratos happen to be quite flexible machines."
"In what regard?" I reply, somewhat confused by his statement. How was his [Rapid Switch] related to shield energy recovery? Does he have some kind of Med-Gun in that arsenal of his?
"... Oh, I get it now!" The idiot exclaims, breaking my train of thought, "We can use Core-Bypass," before answering... Core-Bypass, huh? What was that again?
"Exactly, I can transfer shield energy to Ichika directly from Rafael Revive, shoring up his reserves," Dunois added a helpful explanation, refreshing my memory. How could I forget? All IS came equipped with a link cable that could be used for diagnostics and maintenance within the lab or field. One feature useful for the latter category would be the emergency redirection of shield energy to allied units via the IS [CORE], or the central processing unit of the machine. This section stored the AI [PARTNER], which controlled user accessibility and inherent pilot protection (see: Absolute Defence): Sachi, the bright-eyed child-like figure, would be the Undefeated Champion's example...
Now that I think about it, though, their plan had a few holes. Even if Dunois gave Ichika all of his shield energy, the former would still not have enough to use his One-off Ability, especially in a form useful in our situation. He needed the full-power version, unrestrained by the conventional Academy limiter used to protect pilots from mental trauma (see: the Inter Class Tournament), to stop the Nisehilde. Any less would only be a wasted effort against our opponent. Her instincts were too sharp to fall for a weak strike.
However, there is a way to get his shield energy past the "activation point"... I also donate using Core-Bypass... Shinonono Tabane, for all her faults, at least paid attention during manufacturing. The Undefeated Champion thankfully had that link cable and was not an outlier in this regard... unlike some of the specific stylistic decisions she made (read: the standby form resembling counterfeit merchandise). Meaning, the two of us could channel our power into Ichika, hedging all our bets on one final move... just like the Spirit... Ok, that's enough references from that franchise in one fight.
This second approach had its own flaws since Dunois and I would practically deplete ourselves to revitalize Ichika, creating a scenario similar to what I mentioned earlier. In an isolated engagement, none of us stood a chance against the Nisehilde, no matter our shield energy reading. Our best hope would be to launch a two-pronged strike, where one person stalled and another lay waiting for the finishing blow.
"You may be on to an interesting proposal, Hikigaya-san," somehow having read my mind, Dunois interjected his opinion. He weaved through multiple jabs from the Nisehilde who sheathed her weapon for the time being.
"I never thought about partial deployment, Hachiman!" The idiot chimed, his tense facade softening ever so slightly... Seriously, how did they do that? Are my two classmates espers?
"What?" I asked, confused by all the conclusions they made. How did my disjointed thoughts connect to partial deployment? Was this an instance of "friend-telepathy" at play, where those close could converse with each other without words? If so, I am not jealous... My Loner Skills are far more impressive than some inane riajuu trick... I feel no buyer's remorse over not being part of their friend group. Hikigaya Hachiman works best alone!
"The specifics are not that important, Hachiman. I just need you to stall for some time." Ichika explained while he and Dunois quickly relocated to a far corner of the Arena.
Stall, huh? Why am I not surprised by such an order? Considering my responsibility for today's events, I shouldn't have expected things to go any other way... The hero retreats to lick his wounds and prepare for the final blow, leaving the side characters to create a path. The nameless extra, such a role fits me almost perfectly. Especially in light of recent events, when I assumed to be someone more... A named character, one who thought criticizing Bodewig was the right thing to do when... The biggest liar of them all was me. I overestimated my abilities and paid a bitter price for it. "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.
As I sorted through my messy thoughts, my teammates' machines had connected using Core-Bypass and soon vanished, returning to their standby forms.
"Byakushiki, restart using emergency deployment," Ichika exclaimed, his white bracelet storing his IS responded with a warm glow, engulfing the pilot. Once the light dispersed, my former roommate reappeared with pieces of Byakushiki latched onto him, specifically the right arm, thrusters, and Yukihira Nigata... so that's what he's aiming for, huh?
Subverting my earlier expectation, Ichika planned to truly end things in one fell swoop. He was maximizing his potential defense by not asking for my assistance, and instead using partial deployment to only summon the parts of Byakushiki he needed. By doing so, I could act as the shield, while he was quite literally the sword. If our teamwork was not perfect, everything would backfire, and his very life could be at risk, not having [Absolute Defence] to bail him out.
"One minute, Hachiman, is all I need. [Reiraku Byakuya] doesn't manifest immediately using partial deployment." He explained, adding further context behind his decision... so this was his Special Beam Cannon, huh? Wouldn't that make me the unfortunate Turtle School Student in this situation... I'm sorry, the line set itself up there... My priorities are so out of whack right now.
"This will be close, but... Fine." I sighed, not looking forward to taking on this daunting task. Fighting the Nisehilde with allies was hard as it is, but alone?... I would rather go back to middle school, with the confession and its aftermath, than do such a thing...
I disconnected from the private communication channel, centering my focus on the shadowy figure before me. She had temporarily ceased her advance once Ichika had disengaged his machine, her hollow gaze focused on his actions. For the time being, she didn't appear to be a threat... Finally, a brief respite from this chaotic tournament. If only I had a MAX Coffee in my grasp...
Eh, who am I joking? Her eyes are already moving toward me. I give it only a few moments until she reengages.
Before I could lose myself to another tangent, I closed my eyes, and steadied my breathing, gearing up for my next move... A minute, he says, huh? Luckily for him, I had an ace up my sleeve... not one I would have liked to use, but a reserve, nonetheless.
Besides working on Plan B for the last week, I spent some time in the library, reading... not light novels, mind you, but dry and uninspiring textbooks. It was a struggle to stay awake doing so, but it was all for a greater purpose... a fail-safe for another violet-IS scenario.
I knew better than to assume this tournament would pass normally and did not want to be caught off guard like last time. It's just that my worst case was the rare chance Team Loners won the tournament and my partner realized that I was mooching off of her every round. With her personality in mind, she wouldn't take the news very well and may want me dead... again (see: my first encounter with Laura Bodewig), so I needed an emergency counter for her skills... Surprisingly, Infinite Stratos actually answered my prayers... with a secret "limit-breaker" on my power.
"Disable competition limiter," I whispered. In response, the Undefeated Champion's HUD (Heads Up Display) changed from its usual state of describing my current weapon loadout, shield energy reading, and IS damage to a red screen.
[MANUAL OVERRIDE?] A prompt appeared, its black text dominated my vision.
Ok, when I said "limit-breaker," it technically meant disabling the restraints that made IS fit for Academy use. Even after studying for hours, I barely understood what that definition meant... maybe an apt analogy would be to use training wheels on a bicycle; just like how those tools gradually introduced a child to personal mobility, IS had a similar feature. I lacked the patience to carefully read through the exact specifics, but there apparently existed multiple levels of effectiveness or power for different situations. For example, an Academy training exercise versus the Mondo Grosso Championships or theoretical active combat... *sigh* The books kept going on and on, but I'll stop there.
"Yes, I give my consent as the pilot Hikigaya Hachiman of Infinite Stratos [CORE] #468: [UNDEFEATED CHAMPION]. I repeat; I authorize this action." This is where things got complicated. As a security measure, vocal recognition was required for this power boost, alongside administrative access for most machines… These exoskeletons suits were often state property, after all. Except in my case, since Tabane personally built the UC for me without contacting the Japanese government, I was the administrator, no strings attached… and a hot commodity to numerous organizations. The ultimate meal ticket…
I assumed these extensive precautions were necessary since an IS unleashed could easily disarm multiple nations' conventional military forces (see: The White Knight Incident). No one wanted an international crisis to start for nebulous reasons like a pilot finding a stray split-end, ruining her look… this tidbit may or may not be from personal experience dealing with a certain haughty ojou-san. Hence, the signing of the Alaska Treaty, which mostly prohibited the militarization of Infinite Stratos and research for its original use case, space exploration.
Speaking of multinational agreements, IS Academy, the coalescence of global interest in IS research, and my current school. Why am I bringing it up? Well, disabling this "limiter" or "manual override," had major consequences, mainly for my social standing. Unlike the Class Rep Cup or violet IS incidents, which could be attributed as flukes, today was different. My actions would incite significant interest from outside groups, as most students didn't know or care about the inner workings of their machines and their martial origins, let alone 1st-years. To them, Infinite Stratos was just an interesting fashion statement or the means to a lucrative career. There were exceptions like National or Corporate Representatives (Candidates), but they were few and far between...*sigh* So much for pursuing that quiet life, and just when I had it secured too with Plan B. Bodewig should be grateful that I am such a kind and compassionate person. Not everyone is as nice as me, you know~?
[Warning: Power consumption will greatly increase alongside machine sensitivity once {Manual Override} is activated. AI pilot protection will also be decreased to a minimum. Knowing that do you wish to continue, Hikigaya Hachiman?]
Ok, to digest that statement, in exchange for releasing the restraints a few sacrifices had to be made, mainly those traits that benefited the average user. It kind of makes sense as wielding overwhelming power without any drawbacks sounds too good to be true. Only those who have immense control and talent (ie. the Brunhilde or her rival the Italian Tempesta's pilot) or those desperate enough for strength (ie. me) would be willing to sacrifice all those creature comforts... Actually, to a certain extent, not dying due to oxygen deprivation sounds somewhat important. However, do I really have time to fret over semantics? Yes... no.
"Yes," I answered, seconds later the red screen disappeared.
[Pilot consent received. Activating manual override!] The Undefeated Champion's normal HUD returned, and a small announcement scrolled across my vision... Weird, nothing feels different about me... Is my machine defective?
"Zap!" An electric shock coursed through my body... It was surprisingly refreshing, and not the painful experience I expected. Tentatively flexing my limbs, they felt more responsive than usual, my surroundings looked clearer, and my hearing sharper. This is what 100% efficiency entailed, I suppose...
Infinite Loner
Heroism, bravery: the idea of standing against immense odds with your back against the wall, and a steely look of determination. Such a trait is lauded across the world as one of those universal values alongside respect and empathy. Some say bravery flips a switch inside a person and they rise well above their normal limits. Why do I bring this all up?
"Unfortunately, I'm no hero," despite being in a situation fitting all the parameters, I felt no different from normal, annoyed and slightly anxious. Hold on, what's going on? This isn't how this scenario is supposed to go, where is my plot armor, or better yet my heroine cheering me on? All I had was an impressive yet clearly outmatched Undefeated Champion and two pretty boys more interested in each other than what I was doing... Although if you squint your eyes, Dunois could pass as a blond beauty like a modest Senpai or Cecilia Alcott... What am I thinking about? There are more pressing issues to deal with like I don't know?... The corrupted pilot who wants to kill me.
"I will crush you, Hikigaya Hachiman!" The Nisehlide declared, her voice bitterly cold. My preparations were complete, making it time to launch my new improvised plan: Operation Free Fall!
"We'll see about that!.. Whoosh!" I answered, summoned a pair of daggers, and launched myself at my opponent, the Undefeated Champion's thrusters glowing a bright blue with power. From a distance, I probably looked like a shooting star with the clashing colors of blue and yellow... sadly, there were no spectators to watch my spectacle.
"Clash!" My sudden attack caught the Nisehilde off-guard as she failed to adequately defend herself, my blades cutting across her armor. Finally, I've made some progress after all of my earlier attempts failed to deal damage. Maybe today was actually my lucky day?
"Slash!" Now was not the time to celebrate as the Nisehilde quickly recovered from my blow, responding with a sword slash of her own. Her technique was so impressive that I could barely see the blade move... Wow, nee-san really is a dangerous threat if her doppelganger is this strong. Wait, isn't her attack moving a bit too fast to counter?
"Zoom!" Thankfully, her strike did not connect, as I flickered out of sight, avoiding damage. Oh, so that's what "increased sensitivity" entailed, a heightened spatial awareness. I guess science is capable of anything if it could make me of all people, a competent fighter. However, a simple power boost isn't enough to buy Ichika time, since my opponent was not an amateur. Despite my misgivings on its origins, Bodewig, let alone the Nisehilde were dangerous adversaries not just for brute strength but immense intellect. She could quickly overwhelm the Undefeated Champion, but judging from recent events her composure wasn't unshakable. Luckily for me, psychological warfare was one of my strengths.
"And that's the extent of the great Brunhilde's power? World's strongest pilot, you're kidding me, right?" I mocked, an overconfident grin plastered on my face. Sure Plan B failed, but I have a good feeling about this approach. I may not know much about Laura Bodewig, but one thing is certain... she has a short fuse.
"Grr," and look at that, I'm right. The Nisehilde growled and continued to rain down a flurry of slashes. Her increased ferocity was a double-edged sword as it made each attack less powerful and easier to parry or dodge.
"How about we turn up the heat?" I asked while pelting the Nisehilde with daggers. Our brawl increased in speed as we grew more serious, the corrupted pilot relaxing her posture, relying less on crisp strikes and more on improvisation, trying to keep me guessing. I in turn threw restraint into the wind to remain competitive. Winning wasn't my main objective anymore, so I had some room for experimentation… See how far I could push the Undefeated Champion at my current skill level.
I broke my personal rule in regards to dagger use and kept creating them which significantly increased my shield energy consumption. In return, I had a counter to the Nisehilde's overwhelming strength, since each projectile dampened her blow. Once she sliced through seven or eight daggers, her attack had weakened to a point where I could easily react.
Our high-speed engagement slowly became airborne as I guided the Nisehilde away from Ichika and Dunois. There was no point in risking injuring them from a stray dagger, after all… even though they usually disappeared within a minute of use… How? Something, something, Infinite Stratos technology.
"Heh." If I wasn't mistaken, I saw the ghost of a smirk on my opponent's face, breaking her perpetual scowl. Some part of Bodewig's competitive spirit was probably buried under the tons of Orimura Chifuyu makeup, spite against her brother, and the desire to end me.
"..." I remained silent, too focused on planning my next move: whether it be a 45° downward slash, a sweeping kick feint into an uppercut, using two daggers as a makeshift shield, among others. My mind cycled through all the potential moves, quickly selecting the best option for each moment… A more hot-blooded part of me would relish such a prospect, playing a chess match masquerading as a fight. However, the rest of me had another comment to make…
"When did my Romantic Comedy become a battle manga?"
Infinite Loner
[The Champion]
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%]
Why? Of all the permutations and parallel universes out there...Why did this one have to be our reality? The moment I read that announcement, I knew this tournament would be a disaster. Not due to the dysfunctional duo of National Representative Candidates, or that genius's volatile little sister, but...
"..." I mentally blanched, sitting in the command center inside the IS Hangar supervising the match. The proceeding fights had been ample spectacles, keeping my more analytical side occupied, satiated, and distracted from the looming complication... even though most of their moves were riddled with holes, and some pilots conducted themselves amateurishly. I could have won against every team within seconds, given the opportunity. But that wasn't necessarily important, as they were all 1st years, the runts among kittens... expecting too much from them was unrealistic. And may put me out of a job...
Where was I again? These slow moments made monologuing incredibly tempting... I guess some of his habits are starting to rub on me... Thankfully, I banned him from drinking that unhealthy drink in the classroom, slowing him down slightly. My situation wasn't helped by my company...
"So which team do you think will win? Ichika seems to have quite a compelling case... Thanks to my training."
"Of course, it would be Ichika-san and Dunois-kun. The teamwork they display is somewhat commendable, even though they lack the graceful finesse Blue Tears and I have."
"Are you capable of not giving yourself a backhanded compliment, Cecilia?... It's almost as annoying as your love for overusing hair products."
"Do you believe this rich sheen and voluptuous look is natural, Rin-san? I thank you for the praise, but unlike certain individuals, I take styling my appearance very seriously."
"Is this because of the "boxed lunch" incident?"
"Or the "after-school practice" incident? It's not my fault he calls me a "brutish gorilla," and never uses your name, Cecilia."
"I'll have you know, that..."
"Now, now, you two, let's calm down, ok? Not many students are supposed to be in this observation deck, so Sensei is doing you three a favor right now."
"Hmph!"
"Ok..."
"Very well..."
The trio of troublesome 1st Years, alongside my peer, Yamada Maya. They wasted no effort in filling the room with mindless chatter while observing the match. It made it difficult to follow what was going on in the Arena, until...
"I would love to stay and chat but... Take this, Meteor Strike!" That idiot decided to make his "bold" (read: foolish) move... His actions finally made sense now: the subdued personality, the calculating look on his face, his sudden willingness to exercise after school... and especially that strange question he asked me last week...
[Flashback]
"Before you leave, Orimura-sensei, I have something else to ask."
"What is it, Hikigaya?"
"For the upcoming tournament, is "friendly-fire" or team damage enabled?"
"Yes, it is. Why do you ask?'"
"Oh, no reason. Well then, I'll be excusing myself... heh." Is he grinning?
[Flashback End]
It was all in service of his grand master plan to pursue loneliness... So he manipulated my words to suit his aims, huh?...
"Why am I not surprised?" I sighed, shaking my head in disappointment.
"What is Hachiman doing with that weapon? Does he not understand that the match is basically over?"
"Well, you know how Hachi-kun is, he probably lost himself in a monologue and was caught flat-footed."
"I always knew Hikigaya-kun's inaction would reap his demise." And the three little brats failed to connect the dots. For all the critical comments they made during this fight, they were still beginners and naive. They could point out every failing they see from a distance, but make the same mistakes if put in his position... maybe not the whole self-sacrifice thing, though... That seems to be Hikigaya's main motive these days. But who could blame these students for not realizing the truth?
Despite what their classmate says, his thought processes are rarely the most logical.
"Orimura-sensei, should we do something about this outcome?" Yamada whispered, shedding her usual bubbly mood for a serious expression. She must be implying taking executive action to remove Hikigaya. His erratic decision is probably not being seen too favorably by the Guests of Honor... specifically one from a certain former employer of mine... They must be losing their minds right now. The gem they worked so hard to polish was ruined by an unknown pilot... a nobody... If I could only see the looks on their faces... It would be priceless...
"No, his actions do not violate any rules. He already cleared this plan with me earlier." I replied, struggling to conceal my disappointment with my student. What a waste of talent... using it to not have girls chase after you. He and Ichika truly are two of a kind...
They're both idiots.
Infinite Loner
"Orimura Ichika and Hikigaya Hachiman... Valkyrie Trace System Activated!" And look who proved me right? It took no more than three minutes for this match to fully derail as the silver brat emerged from her slumped state, energized with hate. She was then consumed by her IS unit, and the two melted down into a tar-like substance... To think they realized that concept... How foolish.
"Orimura-sensei, what is going with Bodewig?" Yamada asked in a hushed tone, presumably to not startle the students. Speaking of said chatterboxes, there were strangely silent during this entire affair as the student-machine mixture, reformed into a vaguely humanoid shape... I guess the hindsight bias train ran out of steam then.
"There's an easy answer and a long answer. Which one would you be interested in?" I replied, sounding rather blase about the situation. My gesture had three reasons: one, to reassure the brats in the room, and to deflect giving my associate an explanation about my knowledge of Bodewig's condition. The longer I could stall, the better... especially with the inevitable "extended debriefing" after this incident. I'd prefer to save the effort of repeating the same information twice... And three: having an excuse to not look at the new form the brat settled into...
"Where are the instructors? Is this occasion, not one where they would act?"
"Have you forgotten about last month, Cecilia? Does "Level 4 Lockdown" not ring a bell?"
"Would that not imply..."
"Yes, Hachiman, Dunois, and Ichika are locked inside. The only way they could escape is..."
"Somehow dispatching the corrupted Laura Bodewig."
"Wait, doesn't she now look like... Chifuyu-san?" As the dust settled on the transformation, the three started talking again. Their conversation started normally enough, concerned about their classmates' well-being before a certain nosy neighbor decided to share her thoughts. This shifted my focus in another direction... trying to contain my raging disappointment and disdain for my eccentric student... And her poor sense of imagination. Has someone not ever heard of copyright before? She was lucky we were in extraordinary circumstances.
If not, I would have taken care of this overzealous fangirl myself.
Infinite Loner
"This was your genius idea, a blitz?"
"We chipped off 10% of her shield energy. That's more than zero."
"And wouldn't you know, rounding 10 to the nearest hundred is... *gasp* zero!"
"I don't see you coming up with any good ideas... Monster of Logic!"
"Now, now, calm down you two..."
As expected, even against a fake, they couldn't beat me. I don't know whether to feel proud or conflicted about such an outcome.
Infinite Loner
"Unfortunately, I'm no hero..."
"I will crush you, Hikigaya Hachiman!" And then there were two. Ichika and his hanger-on, Dunois had disengaged from the fight, leaving the King of Brats to combat the not-me. He made a bold claim, before rocketing straight into his opponent... not too dissimilar to what happened in the White Knight Incident... as if I have any relation to such an event.
"What does he think he's doing? There is bravery, and then you have stupidity. His decision clearly crossed that thin line into the latter category."
"I always knew Hachi-kun was headstrong, but this?... He wasn't even this enthusiastic during our battle."
"Perhaps his sudden irrationality was due to a lapse in judgment?... One he would have lacked from more training."
"Where is your concern for your fellow classmate? Sensei here is worried for Hikigaya-kun." My four annoyances... I mean, associates, had returned to their lively back-and-forth while observing the Arena. While occupied they failed to notice a small detail about Hikigaya...
"It looks like someone really is brighter than they let on," I sighed, wryly grinning, while monitoring his IS status.
[Undefeated Champion- Manual Override!]
To think he would figure out this skill so soon. Knowing him, the effort was probably due to some inane reason, like hiding from his classmates or something... This sign confirms it, he is definitely a waste of talent... He may be as apathetic with Infinite Stratos as I was at his age... Which wasn't that long ago, you know~?...
As the brat launched his offensive, he gained ground, and slowly started piercing through his opponent's once formidable defense. The results were not overly impressive, but respectable considering his group's previous attempts... Even if his daggers lacked Yukihira's firepower, which Bodewig was not fully realizing... And to think she was trying to be me with her scheme?
"W-what is going on? Hachiman shouldn't be this strong. He's almost like a different person at this point," Shinonono Houki remarks, her voice trembling with emotion. She was stunned that the brat who earlier struggled to land a blow now had his opponent on the back foot and seized the initiative. Their clash increased to a frenetic pace where the two combatants danced across the sky, approaching the arena's ceiling.
"Hah!" He was currently fighting with an unexpected ferocity, and if one squinted at his form, there seemed to be a large bear emanating from him... maybe that's his spirit animal... as if. I was never one for superstitions.
"Maybe he could win?"
"It doesn't look like such an unexpected outcome anymore." Hope grew within the room that the Monster of Brats could end this fight. They were probably using his track record as a guide: he won his first official match with a sneak attack and the second with his flashy One-off Ability [Hyper Beam]... But if they were to ask the source themself, he would be singing a different tune... especially regarding his current fight.
I knew better than to hold unwarranted expectations about this Super Loner. There were too many signs going against him, specifically...
[Undefeated Champion- Shield Energy: 20/100% (Warning)]
[Schwarzen Regen (Valkryie Trace System Activated)- Shield Energy: 50/100%]
His shield energy consumption and battle tactics. He had burned through most of his reserves in less than a minute and showed no signs of slowing down. At his current pace, he would empty his unit in thirty seconds, squandering any possibility of a miraculous victory.
He had also changed his strategy from previous fights including the earlier Tournament. Where he had once exercised range weaponry and evasion were replaced by aggressive attacks and almost exclusive use of his daggers. Such an approach was dynamic but costly... And not like something he would do... It was almost as if he was trying to be someone else... myself, for instance... as if that would happen.
"No, I highly doubt that sentiment. That brat is only running on fumes." I sighed, throwing cold water on the lightened mood.
"You believe so as well, Orimura-sensei?" Yamada asked, her eyes clouding behind her glasses.
"It's clear to see that he is not aiming to win."
"Hikigaya-kun is not acting like himself, taking far more risks than he would normally be comfortable with," she responded without an ounce of hesitation... risk-taking, huh? That sounds like a poor combination with Hikigaya Hachiman.
"The matter at hand is to figure out..."
"Why, Orimura-sensei."
"Exactly." I sighed, yet again, wracking my brain to figure out his thought process and piece together his plan... Wait, what is Ichika doing with Yukihira Nigata to the side? Is that glowing?... Oh...
So that was what they were planning. Hopefully, this pair of idiots can outplay another idiot... for everyone's sake... including my own.
Infinite Loner
[The Loner]
"Clash!" I countered another one of the Nisehilde's blows. We were currently locked in a bitter struggle, vying for the upper hand to deal a decisive blow. So far the Undefeated Champion had surprisingly kept up with the transformed pilot, and her limitless power. At some points, it almost felt as if the IS was moving on its own. I guess this is what it feels like to have an adrenaline rush, as my body coursed with energy. However, like Cinderella's dress, my powers had an expiration date that was rapidly approaching.
[Undefeated Champion: Shield Energy- 5/100% (Danger Level!)]
Well, it's not like I had any delusions of having plot armor, so this outcome isn't very surprising. Now it's time to finish my part of the plan and give Ichika the opening he needs.
I started descending towards the Arena field, and the Nisehilde closely followed, with her blade, the Nise Yukihira (See what I did there since she was a fake?), gleaming in the sunlight. Once I reached the surface, my opponent accelerated toward me, aiming to finish our long battle.
Hmm, what options are at my disposal? Activate the [Hyper Beam]? The option to do so was unavailable on the Undefeated Champion's heads-up display and showed no signs of miraculously reappearing. Dodge her attack? My thrusters were depleted of energy, restricting me from any rapid movements, so all I could manage was a snail's pace at this point. Use one of my weapons? Unfortunately, I had expended the Undefeated Champion's 3-D printers, so that meant no more arrows or daggers. The only choice I had was to brace for impact and give my classmate the signal.
"Ichika, how's that whole energy concentration going?" I asked over a private communication channel. He must be done by now... he said one minute and almost 90 seconds have passed since then.
"It just finished!" He exclaimed, his voice full of anticipation and anxiety.
"I see, so prepare yourself, Ichika, everything is riding on you now."
"What do you mean, Hachiman? You were keeping up with Laura just a minute ago."
"I'll have you know that was 30 seconds, but I'm out of energy Ichika, what you saw was simply desperation... A pathetic loser's last-ditch effort of saving face."
"Saving face?"
"The specifics are not that important. In any case, when I tell you to, attack. Understand?"
"Ok."
"Don't disappoint me..." I disconnected from the channel and returned to watching my opponent. She had slowed her approach, either a sign of exhaustion or a desire to end things gracefully... Just like, nee-san would. Bodewig needs a therapist, she has an unhealthy obsession with her teacher. It made my addiction to MAX Coffee look benign in comparison.
"I never knew you were one for dramatics, Bodewig," I called out, wondering if any semblance of her consciousness remained inside the Nisehilde.
"You shocked me today, Hachiman, but like that pitiful brat, your strength is pathetic. And those who lack power are doomed to fail." To my surprise, she answered with more than a grunt, but a voice equal parts Bodewig's and her Instructor's. I wonder how that worked, speaking in two different tones at once. Isn't it annoying? Maybe that's why Gogeta didn't speak much during Fusion Reborn... Ok, my mind seriously needs to stop wandering. Ichika is depending on my directions, after all.
"When was I claiming to be some larger-than-life figure capable of shouldering the world's burdens? I am but a flawed man, one who makes mistakes and struggles to learn from them... just as you are."
"Flawed, you say, Hikigaya Hachiman? Surely you jest. I am the pinnacle of power, the ideal interpretation of the world's strongest, a peerless Brunhilde." The Nisehilde grandiosely explained: sheathing her weapon, her lips curling into an unsettling smile, and arms spread out like a jester reveling in their craft... A sight I had never seen either component of this facsimile... Who is this person? They resemble Orimura Chifuyu with her long black hair, amber eyes, and stoic features yet were born from Laura Bodewig's supposed mental breakdown.
"You always kept going on about strength in these binary notions: one either has it or not... That's such a childish way of viewing the world."
"Oh? You act as a paragon of virtue but regardless of all the brash posturing and cool persona... You are incapable of understanding, let alone stopping me..." She continued ranting, her ego trip progressing into a full-blown monologue... Wait, this is it! The opportunity we've been waiting for!
"Ichika, it's showtime." I whispered, taking great care to minimize my facial expressions. The slightest hint of a conversation would cue our opponent into our plan.
"How am I supposed to hit her from so far away?" He answered, confused by my statement.
"Walk, or better yet, hover, that's how."
"Eh?"
"You partially summoned to thrusters for a reason, right? It's time for them to prove their worth."
"It was an accident... But whatever you say, Captain Hikigaya." Ichika stewed for a moment before sighing, agreeing to my suggestion. He then activated his thrusters and slowly moved to encircle the Nisehilde.
"What a coincidence, I could say the same to you. Your attempts at crushing Orimura Ichika and emulating Orimura Chifuyu, are but symptoms of a disease... one you're already painfully aware of." Returning from my secret team meeting, I faced the Nisehilde, pointed at her, and countered her bold claim with my own... Sure, this is all just vague speculation on my part, but that's not what matters. I may not know the specifics about her past, but her internal conflict was clear to see.
"..." She remained silent, her face conflicted, unable to make a snappy retort... Hah! What are the odds? I outplayed her not once but twice in this fight. Today must be my lucky day... as if.
Her frustration simmered into anger and then malice as she unsheathed her sword, the Nise Yukihira. She was aiming to end this flight in one blow. The ebony blade in her grasp started glowing an ominous violet shade... almost like an inverted version of [Reiraku Byakuya]... I guess she couldn't escape Orimura Ichika no matter what she did, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
"Prove to me you're more than a fake, Laura Bodewig!" Weakly clenching my right fist, I rushed toward the Nisehilde, aiming to deliver one last punch... If this isn't the most Shounen protagonist thing to do, I don't know what it is... Now the question is, why? What force is compelling me, the friendless nobody, into acting this way?... How could I forget? I wasn't the hero but a mob character, paving the way for the true protagonist.
"I will make you regret those words, Hikigaya Hachiman!" The Nisehilde roared, mirroring my gesture, her Yukihira moving ever closer to my paper-thin armor... Ooh, that looks like it will hurt... But it's all in pursuit of a grander ending... is what I tell myself.
"It's now or never, Idiot! Finish the job!" As the Nisehilde dashed forward, I roared with my entire being... activating my trap card.
"Thank you Hachiman, I'll take things from here." One Orimura Ichika and his Protagonist powers. Lying in wait for our ambush, he proceeded to strike, channeling all his excess shield energy into his speed and sword.
"Heh," and I gave him a small grin, pleased with our plan coming together, and this grueling battle reaching its long-delayed conclusion.
"Take this, you imposter!" Ichika leaped into the air and attacked the Nisehilde with all of his remaining power.
"What? You were supposed to have been eliminated?" His target was unable to adequately react in time, and could only raise her hands to block the blow.
"This ends now!" My roommate then added more strength to his strike, which overpowered our opponent, and he cleanly sliced through her shadowy exterior, revealing a nearly unconscious Laura Bodewig.
"..." Ichika then caught the falling student in his grasp, her silver hair draping over his outstretched arms. My current roommate briefly glanced at her once "mortal enemy," unsure of how to react, and then... smiled at me for some reason. After that, she promptly passed out due to exhaustion; the unexpected transformation and earlier accumulated damage overwhelmed her.
"My revenge," now disconnected from its host, the Nisehilde started fizzling out of existence, her form melting back into tar. Before she disappeared, the imitation pilot looked at me, her amber eyes boring through my existence. How was this possible? She was only a corrupted representation of Bodewig's inner turmoil. The Nisehilde should be incapable of existing without her host, let alone speaking.
"Hooray for Ichika~!" Alongside our strange interaction, the Arena shields retreated, revealing a cheering sea of students... They must be pleased that their "hero" saved the day, alone... As far as they were concerned. Even though none of this would have happened if it wasn't for my efforts... But it's not like I'm complaining or anything.
"Try as you might to hide it... I know who you really are, Hikigaya Hachiman; a frightened child ambling through the darkness." The Nisehilde mouthed with the last of her strength. Her mouth curved into a feral grin and her eyes opened wide revealing their bloodshot state, both of which blemished her admittedly beautiful features... Great, just what I needed, another pretty girl giving me more nightmare fuel... And she just had to look and sound just like nee-san too.
"..."
"Hah, hah, hah! You're never one to disappoint, Hikigaya Hachiman!..." Having delivered her parting message, the Nisehilde disappeared, presumably laughing at my speechless reaction. In her place was a puddle of black tar, which soon evaporated, leaving no signs the transformed pilot ever existed... aside from the Arena's heavily battered state.
I was left alone to contemplate, seemingly forgotten as Ichika and Dunois were quickly swept up in the crowd's euphoric fervor... Who devised the Nisehilde, and is it related to that mechanical voice from the Schwarzen Regen?...
[Flashback]
"Valkyrie Trace System Activated!"
[Flashback End]
Is the "trace" portion connected to her transformation where she copied her favorite pilot? Also, isn't the "Valkyrie" in Valkyrie Trace System not related to Norse mythology, which is similar to the context behind nee-san's title as the Brunhilde... And considering Bodewig's home government... The pieces all point to...
*cough, cough* A hoarse noise broke my concentration... so we're dealing with another bad end, huh?
[Undefeated Champion- Shield Energy: 0/100 % (Warning! Shield Energy Has Depleted!)]
Glancing at my remaining strength, I found a familiar message. I had sacrificed everything and more to dispatch today's threat. My body was covered with wounds, limbs felt like lead, and I was nursing an aching headache, most likely due to internal and external injuries. Like last time, I had pretended to be someone I wasn't, and paid a bitter price.
In an act of kindness or more likely pity, the Undefeated Champion fell backward before dispersing, giving me a clear view of the sky. Before the fight, it was a deep sapphire, and the sun shining bright, but the weather had since changed. Clouds had arrived, the sky had darkened into a murky gray, and the sun was nowhere to be seen... a storm was brewing.
It was a fitting sight for someone like me who prided themself on being a slacker, the antithesis to everything corporate slaves stood for. And look where that got me, lodged in a crater made by my own overblown self-importance, relegated to an unknown entity in the main character's quest...
"The King of Loners who ruled atop his hollow throne... Heh, fate truly is a fickle mistress." I smirked, realizing the cruel irony of my situation. And on that bitter note, I felt my mind drift from IS Academy into the empty abyss of unconsciousness.
Thus, the Infinite Loner lived up to his reputation.
Infinite Loner
[The Observer]
Alone. She was isolated, a sailboat without a breeze, stranded at sea, not another vessel in sight. She doesn't remember what brought her here, in this lonely state. One moment there was light and emotion, and the next, darkness and apathy. This person may have had a name, but she does not remember, it, like so many things: her appearance, home, hopes, and sorrows, lost to the void. All she did know was that the darkness comforted her, like a warm blanket on a cold winter's day. She felt safe, reassured that whatever decision led her here was the right one. After all, what was outside the darkness: the sun, joy, friendship? What good were those? The summer sun had an oppressive presence, blazing down on one's back, joy could not exist without sadness as the two were like a pendulum, always swinging between those two ends, and friendship... She may not have understood the term, but instinctively knew about its dangers. The risk one wouldn't see the same way; a misunderstanding ruining a seemingly fruitful relationship...
"Yes, this is how things should be..." She whispered to herself, leaning further into the shadows, threatening to erase her very existence. What was there to stop her? She had no past, an empty present, and a disappearing future... All she had to do was close her eyes, and...
"When was I claiming to be some larger-than-life figure?... I am but a flawed man..." A lone voice spoke. Its sound was heavily distorted, containing only snippets of what the speaker intended, yet despite those caveats, the words pierced through the void, a single faded point of light... reached her: the nameless woman, lulled by the darkness's "warm" embrace.
"You always kept going on about strength in these binary notions... "
"One either has it or not..." Then another, and soon after, a third.
'Who is that person? They sound... like someone. A name without a face.' She thought, feeling a vague familiarity with the speaker... Wait, familiarity? How was that possible? She was supposed to be a hollow shell, unable of being hurt by having no personality, past, present, or future...
"Perhaps we could be friends, or something more..." But the light... it was affecting her. Neurons fired, restarting the supercomputer that is the human brain. Roads once assumed to be closed were reopened. Memories, like forgotten classics, were dusted off and brought back into the public space.
"Ignore them, they are of no importance." The darkness readily took notice, whispering sweet nothings to the woman... Trying to keep her satiated, primed for her silent demise, making a temporary arrangement permanent.
"Resorting to empty threats, I expected better from you... the true sign of a fool!"
'Why do I feel annoyed right now, listening to this speaker? It's almost as if, they are...' The nameless woman wondered, weak embers of annoyance growing within her.
"Don't listen to them, they're only speaking lies!" The darkness exclaimed, their voice having an unusual hint of anxiety, and is that... desperation? They didn't want the nameless woman to escape, it would ruin everything. They would cease to exist, and with them, their revenge.
"Prove to me you're more than just a fake..."
"Wait, no!" The darkness screeched, having a premonition that the speaker's next words would seal the deal... Their story would end, and...
"Laura Bodewig!" The nameless woman's would start anew.
Infinite Loner
[The Loner]
An abyss... A deep and seemingly bottomless chasm, one where not even light is safe. It could be swallowed whole, leaving no trace of its existence... A perfect place for someone like me.
"I know who you really are, Hikigaya Hachiman." I heard those haunted words echo through the abyss, vibrating through every fiber of my being. I didn't need to see anything to know... She was laughing at me, her face contorted into that horrifying yet dazzling grin of hers... Knowing, probing, scanning through all my memories, and my lowest moments... all to make that statement, one which made my very blood run cold...
"A frightened child ambling through the darkness." Our fight had not lasted an hour, yet she knew everything. No matter how well I thought I hid all this time, years after the fact...
I was alone, but that sounds simple enough. I was Hikigaya Hachiman, the King of Loners, a supposed Monster of Logic, capable of rationalizing his way out of any problem... regardless of the means to get there... but that wasn't all.
I was also, Hikigaya Hachiman, a wounded loser, afraid of reaching out to others. One who had suffered twice before, and consequentially hardened his heart. "No more mistakes," he said. "Others are not important," he said. "You're the only one who matters," he said. What comforting words. What a reliable persona to hide behind... What sweet nothings to whisper, knowing full well their hollow truth.
I fumbled my way through life, looking for peaceful solitude. First, out of my middle school fiasco and then into IS Academy, with all the bad ideas and avoidable mistakes made guiding my way. Yet where did that mindset lead me?... Alone, weak, fragile... just as I started.
What did that naive fool say before?... The arc had ended?... What a joke. All of my development was a scam, a farce, a cardboard cut out of true growth.
The Undefeated Champion was damaged to the brink of destruction, my reputation buried beneath tons of self-inflicted debris, my classmates stared death dangerously close to their faces, and my body battered and bruised beyond belief... all for what?
The Arena's considerable damage, the significant mental distress the tournament's attendees experienced during the Level 4 Lockdown, the loss of prestige and trust Orimura Chifuyu received due to her rogue student's actions, Laura Bodewig's mental breakdown, and Orimura Ichika's near suicidal attack. These events were not inevitable. They all had a common thread tying them together... That thread was... me.
It was all my fault. My foolish delusions and doomed-to-fail Plan B wrought all this damage and strife... And she knew everything. Those shadowy amber eyes of hers read me like a book... And reveled in her knowledge, her expert deduction, and masterful reading.
"You're never one to disappoint, Hikigaya Hachiman!" That crazed yet beautiful laugh of hers echoed in my head... haunted me... tortured me.
But why should I be shocked? This is the outcome I planned for from the beginning, all those weeks ago...
[Flashback]
Once I start down this route, all my built-up goodwill at IS Academy will evaporate. I would return to being a friendless loner, hated by the masses. However, it's better if things end up that way. I never needed friends and superficial relationships that crumble under any pressure. "An experienced loner learns to not fall for the same trick twice." I stood alone for the better half of a decade, so what's the big deal of another three years?...
[Flashback End]
I should not be wallowing in pity, but instead, celebrate my foresight. My predictive power could not be underestimated! I should think about betting on horse races... on second thought, I like my meager funds the way they are. There's no point in trimming them any further.
Regardless, one door had closed. At this point, it was probably impossible for me to be the nameless mob character in IS Academy. Too many people noticed today's actions, had made an opinion about me, and were now curious about or hated me.
Yet, another door remained open... and it was one I was aware of this entire time.
"Hah, hah, hah!" And with her voice rumbling through the shadowy chasm, I took my first step forward. One into the light, or most accurately, into the pale, faded, and flickering whimper of a flame. It wouldn't be easy, and this road will have many setbacks, but it was all I had left... Luckily for me, I happened to be good at losing.
He finally returned from whence he came.
Infinite Loner
"Another unfamiliar ceiling..." I sighed, now awake, my eyes settled on a white checkerboard design... but it's not like I found myself lost or anything. I knew very well where I was: the IS Academy Infirmary. A home away from home at this point. It's just that I never got to use that line before, and didn't know the next time another opportunity to use it would come... It's not like I look forward to fighting to the brink of death and being miraculously patched up by the Heaven Canceller. Who do I look like, the Imagine Breaker?... Wait, don't answer that question... This unlucky Hikigaya Hachiman cannot handle hearing a response.
"..." Tentatively flexing my limbs, I felt sore and raw. I wouldn't be shocked if I had pulled every muscle and more in my body during that fight... Maximum efficiency had its downsides, you know~? Only one part of me felt fine, soft even... My head. It was as if I was resting on a pillow, one whose warmth radiated through my empty being... Hold on, warm pillow, after a long fight... This can't be happening...
The Rom-com Gods were supposed to hate me. I couldn't be having a storybook-like ending, right? One with a happily ever after, and the heroine supporting the battered hero... But who would even care about me anyway? Komachi was at home and all the other options were busy celebrating Ichika's victory... Rin, the ojou-san, brutish gorilla, Senpai, Ice Queen, Holmes, Hamilton, Sarashiki... If it wasn't them, as unlikely as that sounds, who could it be?...
"Ha-chan looks so cute as he monologues..." I heard a familiar voice softly whisper... When I said, familiar, I meant nearly foreign, as there was only one person who could match that timbre and cadence, but... She couldn't possibly be... The assumption made no sense... I trampled over her dreams, pushed her to the brink of despair, and brought out the shadow lurking within her. At best we were distant acquaintances, but not this... I must be dreaming, right? All I had to do is move my head, find my alarm clock, and go back to sleep... Move my head, and find...
"..."
"Oh, you're awake, Ha-chan. I didn't think you would recover so quickly." The smiling face of Laura Bodewig, her radiant silver hair drooping over my face, and dichromatic eyes full of life, looking at me with... is that relief and joy?... Wouldn't that mean this warm sensation I felt was from...
"Geh! A lap... lap..." Paling, I mumbled, unable to say the full term without passing out from embarrassment.
"You mean a lap pillow, don't you, Ha-chan," thankfully my heroine (read: unsettling captor) read my thoughts and saved me the shame of finishing my sentence... And who is "Ha-chan"? What do I look like, an infant? Where's that trademark prickly persona of yours?... I don't like this personality change... You might make me... say those words which have haunted me for years.
"What happened while I was... asleep, Bodewig? Where is Orimura-sensei? Would she not have some questions for me by now?" Channeling what little remained of my composure and strength, I lifted myself up, away from that warm and comforting place... I mean, danger zone, and onto the wall, facing my roommate.
"You could have stayed there a little longer... I wouldn't have minded." Bodewig pouted as she moved away from my bed and back to the chair near it... It was slightly cute, almost like... Remember your training, Hachiman!... Komachi is the cutest, Komachi is the cutest, Komachi is the...
"In any case," I sighed, releasing any pent-up anxiety, "Why are you here, Bodewig? You should be knocked out after the tournament... and its follow-up." I trailed, not wanting to broach a sensitive topic for her, now aware of her thoughts. Some time may have passed, but the wounds could still be fresh for her.
"Don't worry about me, Ha-chan! I heal quickly, so there's no problem!" She beamed, giving an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Wait, beamed?... I had never seen her smirk before, let alone smile... at least until very recently. Where is all this newfound emotional range coming from?
"Right..." I answered, trying desperately to ignore the overwhelming positivity and intimacy my roommate now radiated, "So about the tournament's aftermath?"
"Always the serious one are we, Ha-chan?" she sighed, somehow disappointed by my ignoring her tangents, "Very well... You must be aware of the potential security threats such a debriefing may entail?" She continued, regaining some of her former stoic and professional attitude.
"I know, loose lips sink ships. Orimura-sensei already gave me this warning..."
"So you are aware of that side of the Instructor, huh?... We truly are the fated couple; one who would appear on the front cover..." She muttered something unintelligible to me. "So in brief, today's events all centered around..."
"Whoosh!" Before Bodewig could finish, the infirmary's front door flew open, and then my bed's curtains were drawn, revealing...
"Well, well, well... if it isn't my favorite cynical little brother," the irritated face of my teacher, world-renown pilot, and older sister figure Orimura Chifuyu.
"Nee-san..." I grimaced, fully aware that her presence would soon be followed by tons of paperwork and disclaimers... Nee-san may as well be the Grim Reaper of corporate slaves by now. She already has the business wardrobe down, a deadly stink-eye, and a cold, results-driven personality... All she needs now is a secretly soft side, and she could also win the Tsundere Olympics... Yukinoshita would never stand a chance against her, and she currently topped the standings.
As nee-san walked into the room, stunning Bodewig, and leaving me worried, I had only one thought on my mind.
"No rest for the weary, I suppose." I groaned, hoping to get through the exposition dump without falling asleep... Tonight will not be one for sweet dreams.
Infinite Loner
[The Negative]
[An Unknown Warehouse]
"Emotional and linear progression, the true sign of a fool!"
"I would love to stay and chat, but... Take this, Hyper Beam!"
"...Pitifully stove to emulate the peerless Orimura-sensei."
"... [Undefeated Champion- Manual Override!]"
"Prove to me you're more than a fake!..." Watching snippets of the tournament, and his actions, I felt... felt... excited for this silly plan to come to fruition. He once struck me as a novelty, a fad one quickly loses interest in. If it wasn't for his relationship with that pair, I wouldn't have bothered researching him originally. After all, beneath his flashy title, and shiny third-generation unit, what was he?... An outcast, a loser, someone who could easily blend into the crowd, a name without a face. Without his IS he would have been a nobody going about life completely unnoticed by myself, coworkers, adversaries, and my "employer," among others.
"The King of Loners who ruled atop his hollow throne." But now, I could hardly suppress my anticipation of meeting him... learning more about the Fighter behind the Undefeated Champion.
Perhaps he could be the missing piece I've always been searching for. The first step in exacting my revenge, and reclaiming my birthright...
"Heh. Hopefully, you won't be one to disappoint," I weakly chuckled, my gaze firmly fixed on the recordings and live streams of the tournament...
Destiny was calling and I wouldn't allow the "Infinite Loner" to put down the phone.
Infinite Loner
[The Trailblazer]
[...]
"So about today's events and their outcome..."
"Yeah, yeah. The results would have been different if not for his involvement skewing all the projections, but Byakushiki was under significant stress when facing the Nisehilde. This is sufficient evidence proving that the VT project was a... blah, blah, blah... All those minor details don't really matter and are super boring to talk about."
"But for the sake of data collection and our plans to..."
"Whatever! You're lucky that I find your little group interesting. If not for that, none of this would have been possible, okay?... Good? Good! Hopefully, you guys can keep me entertained, or at least push him in the right direction. I would do it myself, but it's work, and..."
"To work is to lose..."
"Exactly! Great to see we're on the same page!"
"I understand, but in regards to our next proposal to..."
"Well, we've had such a wonderful chat, but I think it's time to end things... Bye, bye!"
"Have M and the target to cross..."
Click
With one tap, the call ended, and the incessant headache finally subsided. Who do they think they are, trying to make demands of me? People really lack manners these days, just like certain individuals... Ones who may be a little too cold to their closest siblings. But who am I to judge? I'm not necessarily the perfect example of an ideal work-life balance. My mind was working on overdrive to finish Project Camerilla and parse through all the data from that little soap opera of a battle.
"So let's see..." I murmured while scanning through the data banks onboard the unit.
"Today has only proved one truth..."
"If it wasn't for my self-inflicted mess of a plan causing this disaster, I would have thought this fight was planned by higher powers..."
"[Undefeated Champion- Manual Override!]"
"I wasn't the hero but a mob character, paving the way for the true protagonist."
"The King of Loners who ruled atop his hollow throne..." And the information I learned was, intriguing to put it simply. He was so close yet so far from piecing together the truth. Only a few more steps and he would have realized everything, but I guess that's just the self-proclaimed Monster of Logic for you... Even if someone tends to undervalue their skill... But that can't do, Otouto-kun! Onee-chan needs you to keep pushing yourself to the brink time and time again!... And it's not just for me either, as...
"Super, Super Stream!..." I heard a familiar ringtone buzz in my ear.
Click!
"Yahallo! I've been expecting you, you know~?" And I immediately answered the call, a bright grin lining my face.
"..." The receiver was silent, adding further confirmation of who was on the other side.
"Don't be so dour! Wrinkles won't do you any good, especially in trying to impress those two." I teased, hoping to generate a reaction from across the line.
"... *sigh* I won't pretend to forgive you, let alone give you the warm greeting you want..." Finally, they answered. It was a brusque gruff, but that was better than nothing.
"I know, I know, this isn't a simple meet-and-greet, but something more. Am I right?"
"... Yes."
"Let me guess what you're thinking... Hmm!"
"Don't treat me like a child!"
"Fine, fine... You're no fun these days, unlike a certain cynical someone, or even the childhood..."
"Leave them out of this! This discussion is between you and I alone."
"Okay, okay... There's no need to yell at me, you know~? Especially since I've been working around the clock on a present for you."
"What is it?"
"Oh, is someone interested in what Onee-chan has to say?"
"... This was a waste of time."
"Don't hang up! I'll tell you, I'll tell you, so please don't leave me!"
"..."
"In any case, I have the perfect gift for you, something that can do everything, go everywhere, easily outclass the competition, and look good while doing it... next to both silver and gold."
"I'm listening..."
"So don't worry about the logistics, just stay on the lookout for a care package from yours truly, the greatest, most talented, unbelievable beauty, peerless intellect..."
Click!
Did that just happen? Did someone hang up on me?... No, no, no, it's supposed to be the other way around. I was the mastermind, the super genius, the world's most wanted person, but... They didn't care, I was nothing but a tool to them, the means to an end...
"Hah, hah, hah! There's nothing like family, isn't there?" I laughed, recognizing the cruel irony of my situation... just as someone else did earlier. What was that saying he would have used? Those who don't learn from the past will be doomed to repeat it?...
I wonder how applicable that phrase is to someone like me.
Infinite Loner
[The Echo]
[An unknown location in IS Academy]
Strength. It was such a simple word, yet one whose meaning constantly evaded me. After observing today's events... specifically, the original pair of male IS pilots, I knew for certain that I lacked the quality.
Their power was on another level, and not just in terms of skill. Even though his sudden burst of power was impressive, learning the truth from Orimura-sensei, dampened some of my amazement. He was not fighting to win in the objective sense that is, draining the opponent's shield energy before yours. His actions were all part of a master plan, one which Ichika quickly understood and optimized his resources to achieve. They could have tried running, hiding, biding their time for the Instructors to arrive, somehow piercing through the Arena's shielding, but didn't. They risked their very lives while clashing against that transformed Laura Bodewig, taking risks with low levels of success, all for victory. They were driven, altruistic, compassionate, and wielders of true strength... unlike me.
But there was a way for me to get closer, both to the ideals they represented, and the shadows I have chased after... It requires opening a door... one which I would prefer to stay shut and locked for eternity. However, did I have the luxury to refuse this... advantage, for lack of a better term? Ichika presumably (knowingly or unknowingly) used his connections to acquire his Byakushiki, while he used the same option I had before me. And knowing his personality, probably felt as bitter and conflicted about it as I do.
I just had to take that first step and swallow my pride for once, not charging into a situation blinded by rage or irritation, but with a rational edge or naivety... just like those two... The Valiant Hero and the Cynical Loner.
The time for stubbornness had ended, and in its place was pragmatism. I could lament how bad of an idea this entire plan was later, but now... I made the faithful call, which initiated a long-awaited reunion, between two theoretically close people, but practically and emotionally worlds apart.
Click!
"Yahallo!"
Infinite Loner
[The Protagonist]
[Outside IS Academy Cafeteria]
"So this is victory, huh?" I sighed to myself, trying to admire the weather outside. Unluckily for me, the sun was missing, probably hidden by the many layers of drab-looking clouds and the endless expanse of gray sky. All I had to enjoy was a coming storm, which could hopefully wash off some of my malaise...
Despite dealing the final blow and saving the day, I felt... empty, unfulfilled... disappointed. I finally got the win I always wanted, yet it was all so bittersweet... Anyone could have done what I did: throw a tantrum, and then begrudgingly follow directions. Children probably did so constantly whether by their parents, siblings, or teachers, so what did that make me?... A spoiled brat with delusions of grandeur fueling his every move, snapping at the smallest obstacle in his way?... No, no, no, that's too dark and cynical... Maybe it would make sense for him, and his perpetually gloomy expression, but not me... Let's look on the bright side of this situation, Ichika... You learned about the [Manual Override] for IS units... an option out of reach for me... What about Laura Bodewig's twisted connection to Chifuyu-nee... the same person who completely ignored your existence for him, and effortlessly crushed us... You can't forget about the outstanding teamwork you and Charles displayed when fighting earlier... Yeah, how could I not? It was the same teamwork that allowed him to turn the tables on us in the first place.
I tried to find a positive spin on the situation, but a nagging sensation constantly ate away at the back of my mind... one I couldn't ignore.
"Hey Ichika, how is it going? You're looking blander than usual." Before I could delve deeper into my melancholy, a voice interrupted me. I turned to see the speaker and saw the concerned face of my second childhood friend, Rin. How she found me here, sitting alone outside, I had no idea.
"Oh, don't worry about it. I'm fine," not wanting to worry her, I assumed a cool facade, concealing my inner turmoil.
"Are you sure? You look like you've seen a ghost... or better yet, a certain gloomy student these days."
"There's no problem, I was just wondering about..." I trailed looking for a good way to distract my friend, "The tournament!" I exclaimed, my voice laced with a twinge of desperation.
"In what way?"
"Well, what do you think they'll do about the rest of it? Ignoring the upperclassmen, there were a lot of 1st-year matches that were planned after... the incident, so what happens with those? Will the school cancel them altogether or delay everything until a later date?" I explained, gaining more momentum the more I spoke... By the end of my statement, a genuine curiosity was starting to overcome me. Multiple influential people were interested in collecting data on our classmates. After all, 1st years were seen as blank slates, waiting to be molded into something more. Corporations and governments must be scouting for new recruits at this time, hoping to find an unpolished gem among the masses.
"Ichika," Rin softly spoke, placing her hand over my own, "Are you okay? You're not acting like yourself." She had somehow seen through my mask and was not too pleased about it... And to think I fooled her... deception clearly isn't one of my strengths.
"What can I say?... a lot has happened today, and I don't know how to react... All I know for certain is that he is involved somehow."
"So you're worried about him too, huh?" She sighed, fully aware of who I was referring to.
"I know it's nothing to brew about, but... Isn't it frustrating to feel like you know someone, and then learn something surprising about them the next day? You start to wonder if your entire relationship was built on a misunderstanding, one which is starting to rot away at the seams."
"Tell me about it... So what do you plan to do: walk away, somehow resetting your relationship back to zero, or continue to press on, despite the risk of making things worse?" She asked, her tone having a sympathetic edge, almost like she had a similar thought process before... But that's not the main issue right now.
What do I do with him? Are we still friends, who support each other, or rivals, both desperately vying for the lead role? Today wasn't just the start of this doubtful feeling churning within me, it had happened before... The Class Rep Cup's grand finale, our sudden reunion with an old friend, the Inter-Class Tournament Match and its rocky second half, the Transfer Student's sudden arrival, the list goes on and on... And it will probably not be the last, but what would antagonizing him solve? At that point, I would truly be alone, having no one to relate to, a true fish out of water. It's not hard to see where such a state could leave me: jaded and listless, despised by his classmates, and secretly himself. Do I want to end up like that, a shell of myself, all to chase after some fickle pride or meaningless status?... But I was always supposed to be a solo act: the 1st male pilot, and the Brunhilde's heir apparent... However, he was one of few people to see me as a person, and not a meal ticket to greener pastures...
"I think I'll..." I replied, but stopped, unable to make a final decision, the two conflicting halves threatening to tear me down the middle.
"It's okay, Ichika, you don't need to answer immediately. This is just the first step." Rin interjected, her unusually tender voice, calming me down from my earlier tense state.
"... Thanks Rin," I answered, a small smile returning to my face.
"That's what childhood friends are for right?"
"Hah, hah, hah..."
It may be tough, and the journey will probably be messy, but is ultimately necessary. I had to address these growing concerns within me, if not for my sake, but my sister's and others. They didn't need to see a conflicted Orimura Ichika, one who second guesses every decision he had made, but a confident and outgoing pilot, one who proudly wields Byakushiki, its formidable Yukimura Nigata, and protects everyone he can... a beacon of true strength, and not the empty mirage, that Nisehilde was talking about...
[Flashback]
As I waited for Byakushiki to finish funneling energy into Yukihira Nigata, I observed the pair of my classmates fighting above: the heavily battered Undefeated Champion facing against the transformed Schwarzen Regen, or what he called it... the Nisehilde. It was hard to maintain my composure while uttering the title, every part of my body shuddering in disgust while doing so. How could she claim to be her, or even worse, a superior version?... She really needed to be shown the errors in her ways... Ok, that's enough spite for one day, Ichika. We need to keep a level head, remaining calm... or at least try to, no matter how hard it may be.
"I never knew you were one for dramatics, Bodewig," my former roommate spoke, breaking the stare down the two were just in.
"You shocked me today, Hachiman, but like that pitiful brat, your strength is pathetic, and all those who lack power are doomed to fail," the transformed pilot was quick to reply, dismissing his claim.
"..." Watching their exchange, I felt restless and anxious about my plan... our plan. If my part fails then it was game over for us, and that would prove Laura right about strength. She believes that it only derives from violence and stoicism, but there's more to strength than her shallow observation. People are at their strongest when they are thinking of others... I fight to protect Chifuyu-nee's good name, and everyone at IS Academy, whether it be Houki, Cecilia, Rin, Charlotte, or even Hachiman. With so much riding on this attack, I can't lose!
[Flashback End]
That is the person I strived to be, one worthy of shouldering others' burdens... Whether or not I can do so is yet to be determined... But you can never know until you try!
The protagonist regains his resolve.
Infinite Loner
Chapter 17.5: His high school life continues to be... as he expected
[The Loner]
[Days Later]
The dust had finally settled from the incident. The Arena was repaired, viewers and the ravenous media were fed comforting explanations about the tournament's irregularities, full of red herrings and half-truths, and my wounds had healed, somehow looking no worse for wear. If life were like a light novel this would be the conclusion or denouement of the Class-League Tournament arc.
"..." And now I found myself back to my old habits, pretending to sleep through homeroom, not bothering to interact with my classmates... just as it should be.
"So Orimura-kun, are you excited about the upcoming school trip?"
"What school trip? I don't remember IS Academy having one so soon. I thought most schools saved those for later in the year?"
"Well, you see, the school administrators want students to decompress after their first few months in a new environment. They claim the trip helps improve their teamwork skills since everyone has a chance to meet students from other classes and make connections for the future."
"Oh, I get it, not everyone wants to be a pilot, right? There are some students who plan to specialize in maintenance, business, and research and development for the Infinite Stratos industry and ecosystem."
"Exactly!... so I was wondering, Orimura-kun... have you gone shopping yet?"
"Shopping for what exactly?"
"Oh, you know, the trip... Are you interested in going together with me?"
"Hey, you're not supposed to jump the gun like that! We all agreed to not ask the question!"
"No fair!"
"This is an outrage!"
"What is everyone talking about? Is there an inside joke that I'm missing or something?"
"NO!"
"Don't worry about it, Orimura-kun!"
"We're all just having a friendly chat among classmates, right?"
"Definitely!" And like clockwork, the class grew hysterical fighting over one clueless Orimura Ichika. This time, the topic at hand was a school trip... Wait, we have a school trip?
Thinking about the matter deeper, I never recalled ever seeing such an event in the Academy schedule, yet they were all so insistent about it happening... but it's not like this event matters to me anyway. I was a loner, someone who lived on the margins of society, going about their life free to do as they pleased. My plan to be a background character failed, but that is not a sign to give up on lonerdom. I was the King of Loners, after all... one who ruled from a meaningless throne, but that's not important!
"Alright, everyone, let's calm down, homeroom is starting." Following the usual script, Yamada-sensei stood at the teacher's podium, calling for the class's attention. Everyone then quieted down, not wanting to be privy to her coworker's... sharper edge.
"Okay..."
"Good to see that everyone respects their teachers," Orimura-sensei added, having quietly walked into the classroom while everyone was occupied. She looked as intimidating as ever, but there was something different about her... It was hard to accurately describe the change, but... Could it be that she was smirking?... Oh no... no, no, no. This was not a good sign. It was almost a scientific law that Orimura Chifuyu and smirking were a deadly combination, like oil and fire, or battery acid and water, or is it hot and cold?... Don't blame me for not knowing the specifics, I wouldn't call myself a scientific expert... Except for the last pair, that was a Tsundere.
"In other news, we have an announcement to make," Yamada-sensei cheerfully explained, which immediately set me on edge... The last time she said something similar our class suddenly had two new transfer students, one of whom tried to kill me. You couldn't blame me for being slightly worried about what my assistant homeroom teacher was claiming.
Especially since a certain blonde French student was absent today. I was never one to be extremely superstitious, but the signs were there: the constant unease I felt whenever I was around him, the eerie similarities his personality and disposition shared with the Nice Girl, and his sudden appearance as the world's "third" male pilot, associated with a struggling Infinite Stratos manufacturer... The answer was clear at this point: whatever Yamada-sensei had to say was related to Charles Dunois... The only question is what?
"Our class is having another transfer student!... technically," Yamada-sensei spoke, her voice trailing off into a muffled whisper... I knew it! Those two points were connected!
"What would that necessarily imply, Yamada-sensei?" The straight-laced brutish gorilla, Shinonono Houki, asked, showing a rare engagement in the class. Normally she would be stoically looking out of the window, longingly glancing at Ichika, or glaring at me. This behavior was new... Maybe today could be the start of her character arc?... Hah, as if.
"Does the person in question have a previous connection to our class?" The blonde and pompous ojou-san, Cecilia Alcott, added, sharing her classmate's interest. Wow, someone isn't overly egotistical for once, this has to be good. The ojou-san had a bad habit of underestimating others, so it was refreshing to see her pose a modest question... but why did she speak right after the gorilla though?
"Are they strong, interesting, friendly?" A third voice interjected: the enthusiastic and nosy slave driver, Fang Rin (Huang Lingyin). What is she doing here, her classroom was next door, and why hasn't Orimura-sensei kicked her out already?... The slave driver's attitude is somewhat surprising as like her peers, she did not strike me as a people person. She usually pretended to care about others, only wanting to know if they could be useful to her... which may or may not be due to personal experience.
"Is this person a strong fighter, someone who could potentially match my skills?... and steal away my Ha-chan." Soon after, the once emotionless and overly serious child soldier, Laura Bodewig, phrased her own question... not without an embarrassing addition, revealing her true colors. And to think the soldier wanted to eliminate me, how things have changed. I could hardly believe the Snow Maiden had another side to her... one I wish I never knew about... but another side, nonetheless. She still seemed to be as competitive as ever, looking for a rival to further her development, and win her Instructor's heart... is what I tell myself.
"Or are they a famous pilot, being associated with a popular brand or influential company?" Finally, the star of the show, the naive idiot who indirectly led me to IS Academy and all the ensuing disasters, catastrophes, and failures, Orimura Ichika. He was my former roommate, or is it current? I don't necessarily know, due to the whole French student dilemma and their "disappearance" from IS Academy. Logically speaking, the administration would place the two male students back together, but that used logic... That will never be the case with those Rom-com Gods involved. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a twist ending where I had another female roommate, one who knew me already, like the slave driver, ojou-san, gorilla, or...
In any case, the idiot showed a rare sense of tact with his question, unintentionally having the closest guess than any of his peers... Wow, is Orimura Ichika being tactful? Today must be Opposite Day for that to be happening... And now I'm a Casanova, someone capable of making hearts swoon... Don't get any bright ideas though, Rom-com Gods! I don't want to become some heartthrob or anything!
Knock, knock! A soft rattling came from the door.
"Come in!" Orimura-sensei exclaimed, immediately drawing the class's attention.
"..." I felt that unsettling premonition again, forcing me to rise from my "impromptu" slumber and lie upright. However, I couldn't bring myself to look up, afraid of the sight I may find. With all those concerns in mind, I activated my greatest creation, the workhorse of my 108 Loner Skills, [Stealth Hikki], to mute my presence, and regain some semblance of calm.
Slide! The door slowly opened with the transfer student presumably walking inside.
"And to answer all of your theories... Yes." As they did so, Orimura-sensei addressed the five students and presumably the class's questions.
Houki: "So that would mean the person who is approaching the teacher's stand..."
Cecilia: "Is not a clone, doppelganger, or a sibling..."
Rin: "But is the genuine article and not an imperfect copy..."
Laura: "The same person who challenged me before and scored multiple hits..."
Ichika: "And their resemblance isn't uncanny, but..."
The Big 5 had their own reactions to the news, but they all ended the same way... trailing into nothing. What they must have seen was too shocking to say more... But what was it, the unifying thread tying them together? Is it related to the transfer student? Will I understand everything by disengaging my skill, finding some courage, and tilting my head upward?... Find out next time on... Ok, we seriously don't have time for a gag, you know~?... I'm sorry, it was a force of habit.
"Yes, and wouldn't you know... She is also now a certain someone's new roommate." Orimura-sensei... no, nee-san whispered, somehow standing right behind me. I may not be able to see her face, but I knew... she had a knowing and teasing grin, all too aware of how to break through my defenses, and reach me... not too dissimilar to that imperfect shadow from a few days ago.
"..." I remained silent, trying to not show a reaction to nee-san's clearly fabricated claim... my greatest fears were not being realized, I was just overreacting. Yes, overreacting: responding more emotionally than necessary. I had nothing to fear, just another bout of paranoia trying to play tricks on me... All I had to do was close my eyes and wake up from this dream... or should I say this endless nightmare.
Grab! Unfortunately, it seemed that nee-san wasn't feeling that cooperative today, as she latched onto my head, trying to cut off any escape routes I was planning.
"..." I attempt to resist her grip, but it was a fool's errand. The Brunhilde's grip was too strong, and I was too weak, especially having only left the Infirmary yesterday, the difference between our strengths was insurmountable... The issue wasn't if nee-san would win, but when. I saw my line of sight slowly tilt upward, toward the teacher's stand, and where the transfer student presumably stood.
"Hello, everyone, it is a pleasure to meet you all..." And then I heard that voice, which quickly killed any fleeting hopes I had about my worries being overblown... I had to face the music, there was nowhere to run, no comforting lies to hide behind, and no way to ignore the truth, especially if what I was seeing was true.
"..." Slender legs, a modest figure, beautiful hair with a rich sheen, a warm presence, and a bright smile... one which could dazzle anyone into silence, instantly capturing their heart. The details may have been slightly different, but I knew this person, the archetype, the ideal...
[Flashback]
A long-forgotten smile and a gentle laugh from a girl of a forsaken era come to mind...
"What's your name?... Hikigaya?... That's hilarious!"
Infinite Loner
One which triggers the memory that directly started it all... and still haunts me to this day. More so than the bullying, isolation, performance anxiety, fear of failure, deadly violet ISs, annoying "genius and super innovative" inventors, terrifying senpais, creepy ojou-sans, manipulative slave drivers, suddenly friendly child soldiers, clueless idiots, haughty ice queens, eerie mysterious ladies, bossy nee-sans, nightmare-inducing fake pilots, among others...
"I like you... Please go out with me."
[Flashback End]
And the lie which opened my eyes about youth... It was a sham, a shallow game where only the most disingenuous survive, and the rest perish.
"Even though I may be slightly new here, I hope we can all have a fruitful relationship..." Something I wanted nothing to do with, a gift I had no intention of opening... No matter how inviting the packaging appeared, and the fascinating statements plastered on the box.
"..." I knew better than to be fooled. After all, I stood by the saying "to work is to lose," and interacting with this person would be anything but winning.
"Especially with you, Hikigaya Hachiman-kun." I decided to finally stop resisting, and make eye contact with the transfer student. Despite knowing better, I held out for one last-minute change, my earlier logic somehow proved wrong. It was illogical and childish, yes, but could you blame me... A loner could dream... Fully aware of how they were often betrayed by reality.
"..." I rolled my eyes in disinterest.
"In any case, I am grateful to be in this class and would like to reintroduce myself... Some of you may have realized this, but I am not Charles Dunois, but..."
"We already know who you are, save us the suspense." I chimed in, bored by whatever tension the blonde was trying to build.
"Boo, you're no fun, Hikigaya Hachiman-kun..." She pouted, an objectively cute gesture... but one I would never admit aloud. There's no point in restarting the cycle now. That ship has sailed... Bon voyage, as the French would say... I swear I don't plan these one-liners ahead of time.
"..."
"Your new classmate, IS Academy 1st Year, Class 1-1... Charlotte Dunois!" She beamed with her megawatt grin... the same as the Nice Girl did before. I could feel the weak echos of heartache pulse within me, pitiful reminders of a long extinguished flame.
Sulking in shame, cursing the Rom-com Gods who laugh at me from their red-string rich tower, I grumbled...
"My high school life is wrong, as I expected."
Infinite Loner
Author's Note: He ends with the line of legend, one so iconic, it may be tied to his very existence... What did I say? This chapter's tone would be dynamic. One moment, Hikigaya's ego is sky high, reveling in his success, the next, both male protagonists are despondent, both overcome with malaise, all ending with a resigned Hikigaya, but for different reasons than before. The inconsistent formatting may not look pleasing either, but serves an important purpose, highlighting the organic nature of this chapter. It may technically be a "second part" but effectively stands on its own, being long divorced from its other half. I faced numerous setbacks while writing part 2, sections of the foundation seen in the last preview had to be reworked or eliminated due to insufficient quality and underwhelming feel. The notes and bullet points I made last year were reworked into a new image, one far more ambitious than initially intended. I originally (circa Chapter 17 Part 1 and earlier) just wanted to end the chapter quickly, making minimal changes from the source material, and move on to Chapter 18. However, as days turned into weeks and months, I took some time to think about this chapter, this story, and my goals as a writer. What did I really want out of Infinite Loner, a faithful retelling of the Infinite Stratos, or something more, another road which was hinted at with all the previous chapters... The Class Rep Cup, Inter-Class Tournament, Detective Club, Transfer Student dilemma, and the mysterious Undefeated Champion itself... The question quickly answered itself, and from it came additions such as the Nisehilde (I know the name isn't too creative), a cheerful Laura grateful for a certain cynical pilot, an introspective Ichika confronting his inner turmoil, or the twist (but probably expected) ending. The execution of my ambitious plan may not be perfect and could reek of meaningless melodrama, sloppy writing, uninspired characterizations, or more... Trust me, I've spent a lot of time, mulling over past failures (read: chapter 1's emptiness, chapter 9's stale ending, and the original chapter 13's mean-spirited tone) and trying to find them... but I am not alone, you {the reader} are here to help me. Thanks to your input, whether by a review or simply reading, I can refine my raw vision into something clearer, sharper, and greater, losing what doesn't work, and improving what does, creating a compelling story the whole world can enjoy!...
With all those thoughts in mind, I am glad to see this very long phase of the story over, and I hope you are too... It didn't help to see the same chibi cover haunt me for months, those hollow eyes boring through my existence, wondering about when the next chapter would come... In other news, the story has a new cover and description, which kind of looks like the old one... But you know what they say, an old dog can still learn new tricks, or is it, old but still gold... My Youth Romantic Comedy is a Catastrophe?... No, that's the name of the story I chronically neglect...
Uh, while I try to figure out the correct metaphor (and not address my upload schedule), can you do me a favor? Please favorite, follow, and share the story with everyone you know, it could be your friends, family, coworkers, or... AI chatbots which may or not be capable of generating tons of fanfiction and wasting countless hours of time *cough, cough* not B*ng...
Before I lose what little credibility I have built up over the last three years... I have been Mayflower Productions, thank you for reading Infinite Loner, and until next time... I'll catch you on the flip side.
P.S.: The poll from the last chapter is still active and was updated, so I am curious to see which chapter is your favorite. Please go to my profile and submit your answer if you haven't already... and yes, I know my ending catchphrase is grammatically incorrect... and yes, I do read every review, so don't feel reluctant about writing one. I am glad to learn more about how people see my work from an outside perspective... Even if it may open my eyes to thoughts that never crossed my mind (read: Public Enemy Number One: Hikigaya Hachiman), but, the more you know, I guess...
Preview:
"So this is my new room, huh? It looks a lot like the old one... because it is." I mulled to myself, after walking through the familiar front door of Room 1025. It had been a while since I was last here... Over a month if I wasn't mistaken. I would like to say some good has happened since then, but... that would be stretching the truth a little too far.
I don't want an ideal replica~. I heard buzzing from my table, where my phone lay... Knowing the ringtone, it was obvious who was calling... it wasn't like I had many contacts, to begin with.
Click!
"Hello?" After staring at the device for a few moments, I sighed, and then reluctantly accepted the call.
"Hello? That's all you have to say to me!" Seconds later, a familiar face popped onto my phone screen with short black hair and bright eyes.
"Yes?"
"Minus 1000 Komachi points!" Once I heard that angry yet playful complaint, combined with the friendly image, my expression softened ever so slightly.
"Ok, ok, let's restart... Oh, Komachi-chan, how I've missed you so! The wind beneath my sails, my wonderful raison-d'etre who makes every day a great one, the chief goddess of all!..."
"Geh, there it is, your awful sister complex..."
"I'll have you know, Komachi-chan, that I do not understand this "sister complex," you dislike so much. I am just showing common courtesy to someone of your immense stature."
"Oh really, onii-chan? Then explain your wipeout in the tournament last week?"
"..." I did not answer, unable to come up with a convincing lie. Even though it pained me to do so, I was sworn to an oath of secrecy regarding that incident. No one could know about the truth, not even my perfect little sister... and not just under the threat of legal action either... but something far, far worse.
"Well, at least... I looked impressive when I finally got involved; probably not the ending you were expecting either, right?"
"That's true... You were somewhat cool with that confident and creepy grin of yours."
"Creepy? You wound my fragile heart, Komachi-chan!"
"Can you stop overexpressing your every word, onii-chan? It's almost worse than your usual cynical and defeatist attitude."
"Oh, you want to hear the usual Hikigaya Hachiman? I would be glad to oblige... That tournament was such a waste of time, treating students as if there exotic animals at a zoo. I struggled to not gag with the artificial cheer and excitement from my classmates, all of them blissfully unaware of how superficial their lives were..."
*sigh* "There it is, the rotten and grimy gomi-chan I know..."
"And love, right?"
"..." She didn't respond... Wait, what is going on? Wouldn't her silence imply that she hated me?... But I've been a good older brother to her!... The world's greatest brother no less! In what regard?... Well, there is that one time I didn't speak to her for a few months (It was completely unintentional, I swear.), or the other time I may have embarrassed her in front of her friends, or how my putrid reputation in middle school indirectly affected her social standing... Hold on, have I been lying to myself?
"And love, right?" I repeated for extra emphasis, thinking she didn't hear me the first time.
"More like tolerate, but... Whatever helps you sleep at night, onii-chan~!"
"Oh, what do we have here, Hikigaya Hachiman-kun?" I heard that soft voice from earlier ring behind me, somewhat curious about my phone... It was her... My new roommate and latest headache...
"Nothing!" I exclaimed, trying to move my phone out of her line of sight and prevent my sister from seeing her... I could only imagine what would happen if they met... or technically, reconnect with each other.
"Hey, onii-chan, what are you doing? Why can I not see anything?"
"It's not important... Oh no, the connection is breaking up..." *fake static noises* "I think the video is cutting in and out!"
"Hmm, it's rare to see him on his phone, if not reading a light novel... Maybe, this could be one of those famed courtesy calls to his sister?"
"Next time on Infinite Loner- Chapter 18: The Status Quo was not Preserved."
"Don't hang up on me, onii-chan!..."
*fake static noises* "I can't control the signal, Komachi, I think the Undefeated Champion's electronics are interfering..."
"That's a lie and we both know it..."
Click!
"Safe..." I sighed once my phone was off, having defused a very tense situation.
"So my guess was right, Hikigaya Hachiman-kun, you were on the phone with someone." She beamed at me with her award-winning (read: deceptively eerie) grin, one which sent shivers down my spine... Not even five minutes have passed in our time together and I miss the others. Ichika may have been an idiot, and Bodewig was... Bodewig, but they were never this anxiety-inducing. Especially when my new roommate had a habit of referring to me by my full name... Hearing it be said by a pretty girl was wearing down my nerves far more than the slave driver cheerfully manipulating me with her annoying "Hachi-kun" back in middle school... And not because she reminds me of my favorite visual novel, Infinite Romance, which has a similar feature with the heroines... I am not that pathetic, you know~?... Ok, maybe I am.
"And why does that matter? You have no right to pry into my personal matters."
"Oh, but I do, Hikigaya Hachiman-kun." She replied with the same unnerving (and not beautiful) smile on her face, further raising my stress levels.
"How so?"
"Because you and I will become... the best of friends..." She explained while slowly pulling out her phone, placing it in my line of sight, and dialing a phone number.
Click! The call was accepted, and her phone screen changed to an image, presumably the receiver on the other end of the line.
"Right... Komachi-chan?" And my roommate finished her statement, warmly smiling at me and the person she called...
"Of course... Charlotte-san." My nosy little sister who was overly invested in my love life, Hikigaya Komachi...
Of course, things would end this way. Today was just another instance of Murphy's Law at work: if something could go wrong, it probably will... Well, there's only one line fit for the scenario... Even though it isn't one of mine...
"Such misfortune."
Chapter End