Bright morning light stabbed into Hayato's eyes through the hotel room window that wasn't fully curtained. He groaned softly, opening his still-foggy blue eyes. He moved to sit up, and his gaze immediately fell upon the figure across the bed.
Exia—the girl he had saved from the Excalibur core—was awake. She sat upright, hands folded over the blanket, staring at Hayato with an empty gaze. Her pale red eyes looked clear, but hollow, like clean windows reflecting nothing from within.
Hayato smiled softly, trying to be reassuring. "Good morning. Are you feeling better?"
No answer. No blink. No change in expression. Exia just kept staring at him, as if looking through him towards something far behind.
SERA appeared beside the bed, her hologram scanning Exia's body with a faint blue light. "Host, her condition: global amnesia and emotional dissociation. Body functions stable, nutrition beginning to recover thanks to yesterday's care. But her memory and emotional center seem… emptied. Possibly a psychic defense mechanism due to trauma too great."
Hayato felt a tightness in his chest. He approached Exia, then gently stroked the girl's head. Her short brown hair felt soft. "My name is Hayato Hayama. I'm the one who saved you. And your name… is Exia Blackett."
Exia was still silent. But then, her thin lips moved slowly, producing a hoarse, broken voice. "Ha… ya… to…"
That was all. But for Hayato, it was enough. At least she responded.
"You need to shower and change clothes," said Hayato, getting up from the bed. "I'll help—"
Thud!
A sharp pain hit the side of Hayato's head. He groaned, holding the sore spot. In front of him, SERA—in a surprising new form—stood with her fist still raised.
No longer an abstract AI hologram, but a teenage girl with long, silver-moon hair, electric blue eyes, and a form-fitting white-blue futuristic outfit. Most shockingly: she looked physical, solid, touchable.
"OY!" SERA hissed, her voice annoyed yet clearly human. "Taking advantage like that? Exia is still amnesiac and innocent! You want to touch a girl's body like that?!"
Hayato still held his head, stunned. "I… just wanted to help! And you—you can have a physical form?!"
SERA sighed—a real sigh, not a simulation. "I'm real. Can be touched. Arc of Embodiment works well on my own request. And don't think weird thoughts!" Her cheeks were slightly flushed.
Hayato, still confused, reached out and… pinched SERA's cheek. Soft, warm, like real human skin.
"Hey!" SERA quickly freed her cheek from the pinch. "I said don't!"
"Just making sure," murmured Hayato, still disbelieving. "I didn't expect you to be like this."
SERA didn't answer. She turned to approach the still-silent Exia. Her voice became much softer. "I will help you shower and get dressed. I will teach you everything you need to know."
Hayato was silent, then—
Thud!
Another punch landed on his head.
"Ouch! Why again?! I haven't thought or said anything this time!" Hayato protested.
SERA looked at him with narrowed eyes. "That's a preemptive strike. For bad thoughts that might appear." With that, she took Exia's hand and guided her to the bathroom, leaving Hayato pained and confused.
Hayato sighed, then raised his hand. With a little concentration, the table in the corner of the room suddenly filled with food: crispy karaage, katsu with thick sauce, miso soup in a ceramic bowl, white rice, and several types of vegetables. All still steaming hot. He sat and began eating slowly, trying to process this morning's events.
After finishing, he turned on the holographic TV. Morning news was discussing the "Opening of the Japanese IS Academy."
The bathroom door opened. SERA and Exia came out. Exia was now wearing simple clothes created by SERA—a loose white t-shirt and soft training pants. Her hair was dry. Her expression remained empty, but at least she looked clean and neat.
Hayato stood up. "I'll shower first." He quickly entered the bathroom.
When he came out, already wearing casual jeans and a black t-shirt, he found SERA feeding Exia. SERA had created warm porridge with a spoon and was patiently feeding it into Exia's obediently open mouth. The scene was strangely touching.
The hotel room doorbell rang.
Hayato looked over. "SERA, who is it? Enemy?"
"Not an enemy," answered SERA, still feeding Exia. "They're from the IS testing team. And they're here because you were recommended by 'that rabbit'. Let me handle Exia."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" asked Hayato, slightly annoyed.
"Because you slept soundly last night. Even though I falsified your life history data, that rabbit—Tabane—still recommended you to Chifuyu and added other 'supporting data'. The gist: like it or not, you will enter the IS Academy."
Hayato let out a long sigh. "Fine. As long as it's over quickly and I can find a way home." He walked to the door and opened it.
Outside stood three women. At the front was a woman with neatly tied black hair in a ponytail, wearing a black formal suit and sunglasses—giving a secret agent impression. Behind her, two other women with bright red and blue hair, also dressed seriously.
The black-haired woman nodded formally. "Let me introduce myself, I am Sarah. I am here to pick you up for an IS trial. You are Hayato Hayama, correct?"
Hayato tilted his head. "Can I refuse? I prefer regular school."
Sarah smiled thinly, but her eyes were sharp. "You cannot. You were specially recommended by Tabane Shinonono."
"…I'm still in casual clothes. Can you wait a moment?"
"Of course. We will wait in the hallway."
Hayato closed the door, then quickly changed into a neater outfit. He turned to SERA and Exia. "I'll go now."
"Be careful," said SERA. "If there's trouble, contact me through the system. Just call my name."
Exia, though her gaze was still empty, slowly raised her hand and waved. The movement was stiff, like a robot just learning.
Hayato smiled warmly, returning the wave, then left.
---
The journey in the provided car to the secret facility proceeded in silence. Hayato observed the futuristic city streets, then the car entered an underground tunnel and finally stopped in front of a heavily guarded building complex.
After passing through several layers of security checks, they entered a large hangar. In the center of the room, a silver-colored IS unit with a simple design—a first-generation prototype—stood inactive.
Hayato, unconsciously, expanded his Conceptual Vision. He looked around, and behind the one-way observation glass on the upper floor, he saw the figure of a woman with short black hair, sharp eyes, and a cold aura—Chifuyu Orimura. She was observing him. Hayato ignored her, focusing on the machine before him.
Sarah said, "Just touch the unit. If it reacts, you will become the second confirmed male candidate."
Hayato nodded, then walked closer. When he was about five meters from the IS, something unexpected happened.
The IS unit activated on its own.
Panels on the machine lit up, a soft engine hum began, and indicator lights blinked green. Everyone in the room—Sarah, her two assistants, and the technicians behind the glass—were all stunned. Chifuyu behind the glass stood straighter.
Hayato kept walking, then placed his palm on the chest of the IS unit.
[IS Prototype System: Confirmation received. Hayato Hayama registered in system biometrics. Would you like to activate?]
The system's clear voice was heard through speakers. Hayato could feel it—the reality around him seemed to "soften", adjusting to his presence and will. Exactly as SERA had explained. This IS wasn't responding to him as a pilot, but as a source of conceptual authority.
"No need," Hayato whispered softly, not to the system, but to the reality surrounding the machine. "Deactivate."
[IS Prototype System: Confirmed. System will shut down.]
The lights went out. The engine stopped humming. The IS returned to an inactive state.
Hayato turned to Sarah. "May I return to the hotel now?"
The hangar was silent. Everyone was still processing what had just happened. This IS Prototype didn't have advanced AI or a complex Core. It was a basic machine. Yet it activated on its own, scanned Hayato, and obeyed a verbal command? Even Ichika needed physical contact to activate it.
Sarah swallowed, trying to remain professional. "Sorry, there's one final procedure: an actual pilot trial. You must try to operate it."
Behind the glass, Chifuyu narrowed her eyes. Who is this man? Tabane rarely takes interest in others. She recommended him very enthusiastically. What's with him?
Hayato finally agreed. He was taken to a preparation room, then put on a special suit, and returned to the hangar where the same IS was ready.
[IS Prototype System: Welcome back, Hayato.]
Hayato entered the cockpit. As his hands gripped the controls, he channeled a bit of Arc of Embodiment "concept" into the machine's system.
[IS Prototype System: Core input. System operating at 100%.]
Not a physical Core. But a concept of "energy core" he implanted, making the IS operate with perfect efficiency.
He was taken to a testing field—a vast arena with a solid surface. Across from him, a plain black IS unit with a more aerodynamic design already stood, and inside it: Chifuyu Orimura.
Hayato's cockpit opened in training mode. Chifuyu floated closer, her face clearly visible through her transparent visor. Her voice was flat but full of pressure. "Hayato Hayama. Who are you? Why does the IS respond to you like that? And what is your relationship with Tabane?"
Hayato answered calmly. "I am Hayato Hayama. An ordinary human. About the IS… that's a secret. And that rabbit acts as she pleases. My relationship with her? Just a stranger. I just want to stay away from her."
Chifuyu didn't look satisfied. "I will test you. Whether this is a coincidence, or there's something suspicious about you."
Hayato sighed.
[First time fighting while piloting a mecha IS. As a Mage, this is my first physical experience with a machine. Not bad for a first experience.]
That thought was heard by Chifuyu. She was slightly surprised to hear that voice, noticing Hayato's lips didn't move. It seemed like an inner voice, but it seems not only Ichika, my little brother, but this person too.
She had once told Ichika with words that the inner voice was heard but immediately silenced by something, and trying to write a message or on paper seemed to cause an error; even pen ink wouldn't flow.
'I can hear his voice. I better confirm it.'
Chifuyu took a defensive stance. Hayato moved his IS forward and swung his training plasma sword—an amateurish slash easily read.
[Let's try with a simple slash first.]
Chifuyu heard that thought again. She easily parried the slash.
Clang!
But when their swords met, Chifuyu was shocked. The weight on her hand felt incredibly heavy—as if she wasn't parrying a plasma sword, but blocking the impact of a giant solid object. Strength? From where?
She wasted no time. With speed and precision far surpassing Hayato's, she launched a swift counterattack—two, three, four consecutive slashes. Hayato tried to parry, but his experience was zero. He was overwhelmed. His sword was knocked away, and his IS fell to the ground with a rumble. Chifuyu's sword landed on the ground right beside the cockpit head of Hayato's IS, stabbing into the arena surface.
Chifuyu approached. "Not bad… for a beginner."
Hayato opened the cockpit, getting out a bit sluggishly. "I lost."
"You didn't use all your ability," Chifuyu accused, her eyes staring sharply.
"Because I'm truly an amateur at this," Hayato answered honestly. "It's hard enough to pilot it. In that case, I'll leave now."
[I want to rest at the hotel and relax, before the chaos at the IS Academy begins—with a bunch of girls who will surely be troublesome.]
That thought again. Chifuyu only nodded slowly, letting him go.
When Hayato was far enough, someone jumped out. It turned out to be Tabane Shinonono with a wide smile.
"Whoaa~! So amazing!" she exclaimed, her purple eyes sparkling like a child getting a new toy. "An IS Prototype without AI or Core activating on its own! Can I research your body? I mean, your brain!"
Hayato felt a shiver. "That's the same thing." He turned and walked quickly, leaving Tabane laughing cheerfully.
Chifuyu approached Tabane, her face still serious. "Tabane. Are you sure he's not a threat?"
Tabane stopped laughing, her smile changing into a calculating smile that was oddly cold. "A threat? Wahaha~! He's a jackpot, Chifuyu! A jackpot from outside the system! Imagine if I could implant a chip in his brain and read how that 'mysterious power' works… I could create an IS that even many people would be amazed to see!"
Chifuyu was silent for a long time, looking towards Hayato who had disappeared at the end of the corridor. Then she sighed. "You are too dangerous if left unsupervised."
But in her heart, Chifuyu knew: both Hayato and Tabane were unpredictable variables that could change everything. And she had to decide which side she would stand on.