Man & Machine (Infinite Stratos x Male Reader)

Reality

Save for the events of that particular night, nothing else had happened in the past couple of weeks. It seemed that media attention had indeed discouraged potential attacks. Your mind had slipped more and more into the day to day life. Academics, practice and managing yourself among the girlfriends you had. Though the curious thing was Charlotte and Laura were more often seen as a pair, making so time spent with you was often with the other. They had already been close friends before, but it appeared that what happened in the dorm room brought them even closer.

That left one person, and it was the one with which you were surprised that she had not made any moves. For all that teasing, Tatenashi had not yet acted upon them. A part of you considered that maybe she was waiting for you to take the initiative. Yet that notion was out of reason due to two things. The first was that every girlfriend had clearly been determined to do the deed since Chifuyu. The second was that she had been more absent as of late. Presidential duties aside, you were concerned that she may have withdrawn out of being hurt.

Still, you were in company with Charlotte and Laura. The other occupant of the cafeteria booth was Rin, who was idly playing with a straw while the other three enjoyed drinks.

"It's so boring." She complained.

"It's because Ichika isn't here, no?" Charlotte teased.

"Shénme (什么)?!" Rin started, initially started to speak Mandarin before consciously switching back to English. "No it isn't! Like I care if he's here or not."

"In other words, yes it is." You said bluntly.

"No I-" A hand was held up to stop her.

"Rin, if there's one thing you and Houki have in common, it's protesting way too much to hide your actual feelings, though she's been getting better about it." You commented.

"..... Fine. It's because of him." She pouted. Ichika had in fact been sent off campus to a research lab, under escort by Yamada and shadowed by Natasha.

"Perhaps you should show initiative in making Ichika your Liebling." Laura suggested.

"Easy for you to say Fraulein I-kiss-him-and-declare-him-mine-in-front-of-everyone." Rin snipped.

Out of the corner of your eye, one of the pillar screens glitched. That was the only warning before the whole room went dark save for sunlight. Then that too vanished as safety shutters closed. No emergency lights or power activated.

You sighed. "Here we go again."

<Incoming transmission (F/n)> Sabre said before said green bar with a "SOUND ONLY" text appeared on everyone's left ear.

"All of you with personal units, gather at the underground special block immediately." Chifuyu's voice could be heard. "I'll send you directions."

Sure enough, a screen projection appeared on your left peripheral vision showing a map and directions.

"You heard her. Let's move." You said, running off to follow the directions. The course sent you through a winding route of tunnels, hallways and stairs until you came upon the observation deck of this underground special block. Standing there was Chifuyu, with Kanzashi seated at the computers.

"There was a place like this underground?" You could hear Houki's voice through the PA speakers. She must have been below. You realized then that none of the girls had followed you. Instead one had joined you. Entering the room and taking position beside you was Tatenashi.

"Let me explain the situation." Chifuyu began. "At this moment, all of the academy's systems are down. In other words, we're being hacked."

"Bastards." You muttered. Hackers were among the worst of the worst in your book.