Dawn was still far from breaking when Hayato woke up. His hotel room was dark, illuminated only by streetlights seeping through the cracks in the curtains.
He looked at the holographic clock beside the bed: 05:00. Annoyed, he closed his eyes again, trying to force himself to sleep. But the drowsiness had fled, replaced by restlessness and thoughts swirling about how to get home.
SERA appeared as a soft blue light beside the bed. "Just get up, Host. Don't forget, it's your first day of school at the IS Academy today."
Hayato yawned widely, then rubbed his face. "Hopefully it doesn't end in chaos." He got up, grabbed a clean set of clothes from the closet, and headed to the bathroom.
The warm water flowing over his body was somewhat calming. Behind the sound of the shower, his mind spun. Going home. How? Arc of Embodiment Tier 3 might be able to, but it takes time. And here, he had to face a mecha school full of girls.
After showering, he put on casual clothes—a grey t-shirt and jeans—then went down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. As he approached the buffet area, a hotel receptionist with long, flowing black hair—with a name tag "Yukari" on her chest—approached him with a professional smile.
"Excuse me, Hayato-sama," she said in a soft voice.
"There's a package for you. From the IS Academy, it arrived this morning. Due to your status as the second male IS pilot…" She held out an elegant box.
Hayato accepted it with a smile. "Thank you, Yukari-san."
"Thank you." Yukari turned quickly, but Hayato caught a glimpse of her reddened ears before she disappeared behind the counter.
Breakfast consisted of rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and a few snacks. After finishing, Hayato returned to his room. Inside the box, he found a complete IS Academy uniform: a white jacket with red accents and a black collar, white trousers, and shoes. He put it on and stood in front of the mirror. It fit. And strangely… he looked quite dashing in it.
With a bag containing empty notebooks, he left the room and the hotel.
---
The map on his smartphone showed the way to the cable car station. The Infinite Stratos world was truly different. Buildings soared with aerodynamic shapes, and giant holographic screens displayed advertisements for technological products.
The cable car he rode slid above the city, offering a spectacular view. In the distance, the main building of the IS Academy was visible—a majestic structure with a tall central tower, surrounded by support facilities.
As he got off at the station nearest the academy, the clock showed 07:00. The main gate of the academy was wide open. A few female students who had arrived early stopped and glanced at him. Whispers began to be heard.
"Ehh!? Who's that guy?"
"Is he going to be in our class?"
"Pretty… I mean, handsome!"
"Could he be the second male IS pilot from the news?"
Hayato ignored them, walking calmly through the gate and into the main building. The hallways were wide, bright, and filled with digital announcement boards. He walked… and walked… and began to realize something.
[Where's the staff room? Why am I getting lost here?]
"Your eyes!!" SERA snorted in his head, her voice annoyed. "Use them properly! You don't need to bother looking for the staff room if you can scan the entire building layout with your ability!"
"Ah!" Hayato stopped, feeling foolish. He cleared his throat. "I forgot."
"You are unconsciously foolish at times," SERA commented dryly.
Hayato chose to remain silent. SERA was right. He closed his eyes for a moment, lightly activating his Conceptual Vision. In an instant, a three-dimensional mental map of the building formed in his mind. The staff room was on the second floor, east wing. He turned and walked with purpose.
In front of the staff room door, he knocked. "Excuse me. I'm Hayato Hayama, a new student."
"Enter," the flat voice of Chifuyu Orimura came from inside.
Hayato opened the door. Inside, besides Chifuyu, there was Maya Yamada, and… a "boy" with blonde hair tied in a ponytail and purple eyes who looked very nervous—Charlotte Dunoa in disguise.
Maya Yamada smiled warmly. "Perfect timing. Hayato-kun, this is the other new male student. Charlotte Dunoa."
Hayato nodded. "Hayato Hayama. New student. Nice to meet you, Charlotte."
He paused, then smiled. "Just call me Hayato. We're both guys, no need to be formal."
Charlotte was surprised. Her cheeks flushed slightly. Being called by her first name by someone she just met? That… was unusual, but oddly felt warm. "Ni-nice to meet you, Hayato. I'm Charlotte Dunoa."
Chifuyu observed their quickly familiar interaction with an analytical gaze. "Good. Since there's still time, I'll introduce some important places. And this," she pulled out two dictionary-thick books from her desk drawer, "Mandatory reading. IS Technical Manual and Basic Theory."
Charlotte accepted it with a polite smile. "Thank you, Sensei."
Hayato accepted the book with a slightly trembling hand. This book was heavy. He opened a few random pages—inside were full of circuit diagrams, energy physics formulas, material specification tables, and dense theoretical text.
[Memorize all this?! My brain will explode. Damn Tabane, why does the IS manual have to be this thick. It should be simple and thin!]
That thought, as usual, "leaked."
Yamada-sensei and Charlotte were both surprised. Yamada-sensei was confused. 'Inner voice again? Like Ichika-kun?'
Charlotte stared at Hayato, whose face was clearly pale looking at the book. "Hayato, are you*****– (Talking with your inner thoughts just now?) She tried to ask, but her mouth locked again. No sound came out.
Hayato looked at her puzzled. "Huh? Could you repeat that, Charlotte?"
Charlotte tried again, but her lips wouldn't move. She looked confused.
Chifuyu, observing everything, narrowed her eyes. 'So, Yamada-sensei and Charlotte can also hear it. Not just me. What kind of mechanism is this?'
"Do you have any complaints about the book, Hayato-kun?" she asked in a flat tone.
Hayato quickly cleared his throat. "No, Sensei! I'll study it earnestly."
But his thoughts exploded again.
[I don't know how long it'll take to memorize all this. Besides, my plan is just to modify the Prototype IS into a personal IS that can transform and change functions using the Arc of Embodiment.]
This time, all three of them—Chifuyu, Yamada, Charlotte—fell silent upon hearing that "secret." Modifying an IS with power? A personal IS?
Chifuyu massaged her temples, feeling a headache coming. "Alright. You two wait outside for a moment. I'll take you on a tour."
Hayato and Charlotte went out, carrying their heavy books. In the corridor, Charlotte glanced at Hayato. "You… are Japanese?" she asked, trying for a normal conversation.
Hayato thought for a moment. "Yes. But… I don't know if this blonde hair is normal here."
To be honest, he also didn't know the background of the "NPC" Hayato Hayama in this world with an Oregairu setting.
In the staff room where only silence remained, "Eto, Orimura-Sensei…" Yamada's voice was soft, almost a whisper.
"Just now… I thought I heard something strange. Like… Hayato-kun's inner voice. And it sounded exactly like Orimura-kun's— I mean Ichika's— inner voice when he reads the IS manual."
"I don't know either, Yamada-sensei," she answered, her voice low and careful.
"This world is full of individuals with special abilities, especially since IS technology developed. However, another more troublesome problem is Tabane's interest — in him. Her interest rarely brings anything simple."
Yamada nodded slowly, understanding the implication of the mentioned 'Tabane'. "Then… will you monitor him?"
"For now, yes," Chifuyu stood up. "I'm leaving now. Please handle their introductory documents for the academy system."
"Alright, Orimura-sensei. Take care."
Not long after, Chifuyu came out and led them on a tour: the spacious cafeteria, various club rooms from tea ceremony club to heavy mechanics club, the digital library, and finally heading towards the classroom area.
On the way, they passed by a female student with dark brown hair, glasses, and a camera in hand—Kaoruko Mayuzumi from the newspaper club.
"Orimura-sensei!" she greeted enthusiastically. "Can I take their picture? For some reason… their hair colors match! Are they brothers?"
Hayato shook his head with a smile. "No. My name's Hayato Hayama. Just call me Hayato."
Charlotte, with her typical nervousness, added. "Charlotte Dunoa. Nice to meet you."
"Kaoruko Mayuzumi! Class two, newspaper club! Nice to meet you!"
Chifuyu cut in. "Later, Mayuzumi-san. It's almost time for class."
Kaoruko made a disappointed face, but nodded. "Alright, Sensei. See you later at break, Hayato-kun, Dunoa-kun!"
The bell rang. Chifuyu turned. "Wait for the command, then enter."
While waiting outside the classroom door, Charlotte asked again. "You… from where in Japan?"
Hayato shrugged. "Chiba. But I'm rarely there."
"Enter!"
The door opened. Maya Yamada, who was already inside, greeted them. "We have two new transfer students, male. Please introduce yourselves."
Hayato stepped forward. "Hayato Hayama, from Chiba. Hobby? Relaxing, I guess. Just call me Hayato. I look forward to your help." Simple and direct.
Charlotte followed, her voice slightly trembling. "Charlotte Dunoa, from France. I look forward to your help."
The class, dominated by girls, immediately became noisy.
"Ehhhh!? Two guys at once?!"
Honne Nohotoke, who was usually quiet, exclaimed with sparkling eyes. "Your hair colors are the same, Are you two brothers?!"
Charlotte quickly answered, "No!"
Kiyoka Aikawa, with red cheeks, commented. "Finally… there's another guy in this school."
Cecilia Alcott and Houki Shinonono just remained silent, observing carefully.
In Ichika's mind, who was sitting in the front row, a thought passed by.
{I never expected there'd finally be another guy in this school.}
Charlotte flinched. An inner voice? But it wasn't Hayato's voice. Maybe… from the guy in front? She glanced at Ichika.
Yamada gave instructions. "Hayato-kun, Dunoa-kun. Please take your seats at the back."
They walked to their seats. Hayato sat down and looked at his desk—made of metal and sturdy, but it had a flat panel with a large touch screen and some physical buttons on the side. A strange feeling washed over him.
[My world… is far more backward. Here even a desk has a touch screen. In my world, it's just regular desks and chairs.]
The entire class, except for Ichika, suddenly fell silent. All eyes were on him—or more accurately, on his "audible" thoughts.
Ichika was confused. "Eh? Why did it suddenly get quiet?"
Cecilia, Houki, Honne, Kiyoka—they all exchanged looks. They had already gotten used to, albeit unwillingly, hearing Ichika's inner voice which they couldn't tell him about when Ichika first entered this school. Now, there was another inner voice. From Hayato. And the content… "my world"? Did he mean…?
Chifuyu, standing at the front, narrowed her eyes. Another world. That's confirmation. But what kind?
Yamada, who didn't fully grasp the situation, just looked confused.
Charlotte stared at Hayato with mixed feelings—awe, confusion, and a little fear. 'He… is from another world?'
The silence broke when the holographic projection screen at the front of the class lit up, and Chifuyu with a firm voice began the lesson.