Infinite Stratos - Volume 1, page 17
"...Let's sleep!"
I took my shower, brushed my teeth and wore my sleeping clothes. On a side note, my indoor clothes are my sleeping clothes. Okay, let's sleep!
*THOMP* *THOMP!*
WAH! Whose fist is it now! I immediately lept out of my bed and dashed towards the door.
"Yes, may I know who--"
"..."
The one standing in front of the door with an unhappy face is Houki.
"What is it? Did you forget something?"
"..."
Houki didn't answer me. She continues to look unhappy, as if she's a time bomb with unknown danger rating and has 5 minutes left...well, I haven't watched those kinds of things.
"What happened? Enter the room first!"
"No need, I'll just stay here."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"..."
"..."
Oi!
"...Houki, if there's nothing to say, I'm going to bed."
"OF, OF COURSE THERE'S SOMETHING!"
Houki just shouted out, scaring me. You'll get scolded if you shout that loud on the corridor--by the devil-like dorm supervisor.
"Ne-Next month, in the individual division tournament..."
That tournament should be held in June, and it seems different from the class representative tournament; it's a free-for-all individual tournament. Except for the fact that the applicants are sorted by the year of the student, there isn't really that many special conditions. However, the fact that a personal IS has an overwhelming advantage hasn't changed.
"If, if I win--"
Houki blushes as she continues. For some reason, she seems to be blushing as she looks at me.
"You-You'll go out with me!"[1D 2]
Houki emphatically points at me.
"...What?"
Of course, as of now, I am a bit puzzled, but this seems to be a declaration of war. Now, if I only I could know who this declaration is targeted at--
Afterwords
Hello to everyone. We met for the first time, my name is Yumizuru Izuru.
This IS novel is the first original light novel that I personally wrote. How is it? I'll be really grateful if the readers can give me some feedback.
I'm really thankful to be able to write this story in such a manner for all the readers to read.
First, I'll like to thank my first reader, and the most important person to me who has been supporting me, the chief editor, Misaka-san, who gave me this opportunity, my editor, Shoji-san, who worked with me all the way since the planning stage, and Okuira-san, who gave life to the characters. Thank you all.
Also, to all the readers who have this book right now, I really want to thank you now for reading my work.
It's because of everyone supporting me that I am here now.
Then, let's talk about the story! Because of a certain encounter. In my life, there has to be robots involved in my line of work; is this fate? When I started off, I was writing as a scriptwriter at a company for 5 years (about the number of pages of a carton of paper), and what I produced also involved robots. (At that time, it seemed to cause quite a stir about someone ridiculous who sent a large pile of paper over)
But every time I recall this, I will always think that it's amazing that they could finish such a novel that's excessively long! One of my readers later became my superior. It's thanks to him favoring me that I am able to be here today. Truly another story that makes me grateful for.
Because I met so many people, I was able to get a proper footing. This is really a great environment. Thank you all.
Just like that, the lead of this hi-speed school life action love comedy 'IS'--Ichika will continue to interact with other characters, support each other and continue to be active! Probably...no, that'll definitely happen!
Speaking of which, even though I switched from a gaming company to light novels, being raised in the gaming world, I still like to work with multiple people giving me ideas. It's really interesting to be working with people while discussing.
It's the same when I got Okiura-san to help out with the illustrations. Even though I only told him during the discussion not to hold back when giving ideas, the moment I said this, he pulled out a brilliant thumbnail for the IS! The power an illustrator holds always has an overwhelming presence, and I'm really amazed by that.
Normally speaking, the story will be completed first, but it's pretty common to see some creative illustrations while writing the story. The illustrations really stimulates me a lot.
"This illustration concept is great! Okay, let's show it here! Then the design should be like this, like that...ohhh, that concept can be used later! Very good, we have a blueprint for the next novel!"
And things like that—the moment my thoughts are visualized by the illustrator's hands, I will think 'amazing! The concept image is formed! It's not just a thought!' and feel really happy about it.
Also, if he's an illustrator you like, I'll be even more grateful!
At this moment, I really feel like I'll living in a good time in a good country (laughs).
I hope that everyone can work hard with me for the time being.
Please take care of me. If you can give me your thoughts, it will be a great encouragement to me.
Even if it's just a 'clap', I'll be really happy (uu, I've been requesting others now...)
Then, let's meet in the 2nd volume! See you next time!
--Yumizuru Izuru
A certain day in April, 2009.
Congratulations to Yumizuru-san for publishing the first novel.
We've met for the first time. I'm Okiura, the one in charge of the illustrations.
Anyway, Houki's prideful bad temper is really cute.
At the same time, I'm really jealous of Ichika's harem (laughs).
Yumizuru bro, S-san, who's in charge of editing, thank you for giving someone like me a personal space to express myself.
And I would also like to thank the designers for their perfect layouts.
-Okuira
Translation Notes and References
Chapter 2
↑ 白式, "White Expressions"
↑ 雪片弐型 "Yukihira type2"
↑ Many make a mistake here, Yukihira and Yukihira Nigata are two different weapons where Nigata means type2 (ie: an upgraded version).
↑ A kesagiri is a strike from lower-left to upper-right, so in this case, a reverse kesagiri would be from lower-right to upper-left.
↑ The first kanji in Ichika's name means "one".
↑ A pun here. Dreadful (凄味, sugomi) and dejected (すごすご, sugo sugo), which is why Ichika found it interesting.
Chapter 3
↑ Orimura-kun is hinting at the famous actor Takakura Ken, who is known for being rather quite. "I don't really talk a lot." is a phrase he's famous for.
Chapter 4
↑ The ASIMO is a humanoid robot made by Honda Motors.
↑ The words Houki used can both be used to ask someone out for a date or to ask another to accompany the speaker on an errand.
Prev NA [v d e]Infinite Stratos Next
Volume 1 Novel Illust. - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Afterwords
Volume 2 Novel Illust. - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Epilogue - Afterwords
Volume 3 Novel Illust. - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Epilogue - Afterwords
Volume 4 Novel Illust. - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Epilogue - Afterwords
Volume 5 Novel Illust. - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Epilogue - Afterwords
Volume 6 Novel Illust. - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Epilogue - Afterwords
Volume 7 Novel Illust. - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Epilogue - Afterwords
Volume 8 Novel Illust. - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Epilogue - Afterwords
Side Stories
SS 1 Novel Illust. - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4
SS 3 Novel Illust. - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2
Izuru Yumizuru, Infinite Stratos - Volume 1
