Infinite Stratos

 Story~

In the near future, a Japanese scientist engineers a powered exoskeleton called "Infinite Stratos" (IS). Possessing technology and combat capabilities far more advanced than any other weapon system, the IS threatens to destabilize the world. Faced with such an overpowering weapon, the nations of the world enact the "Alaska Treaty", which states that IS will never be used for military combat and that existing IS technology must be equally distributed to all nations, to prevent any one nation from dominating the others. The introduction of the IS does, however, have a major effect on society. As IS can only be operated by women, there is a shift in the power balance between men and women, where women now dominate society over men.

Ten years after IS was initially introduced, the world has entered a new age of peace. The peace is shattered, however, by Ichika Orimura, a 15-year-old Japanese boy able to operate an IS. Realizing the potential, the Japanese government forces the bewildered young man to attend the prestigious Infinite Stratos Academy, an international academy where IS pilots from all over the world are trained. Thus, he starts a busy high school life surrounded by nothing but girls who can use IS.

Main Characters:

• Ichika Orimura

The protagonist of Infinite Stratos. He is a first year student at the IS Academy. His older sister, Chifuyu, is a legendary IS pilot who raised him when the siblings' parents abandoned them at a young age. Despite how harshly she treats him, he loves his sister dearly. As the first male IS pilot, his new reputation has made him somewhat famous as many scientists and engineers would like to study him. He is oblivious to the fact that some of his female friends have feelings for him. He pilots the Byakushiki (白式?, lit. White Expressions) IS, a prototype, one of only two developed 4th-generation IS focused on short-range melee attacks. He also possesses Chifuyu's Yukihira Type 2 (雪片弐型 Yukihira Nigata?), upgraded from the version used by his sister; and Core Number 001, the very first IS core.

• Houki Shinonono

 Houki is a first-year student at the IS Academy and Ichika Orimura's childhood friend, though they have not seen each other for six years. She has a very long ponytail. Her place of residence is home to a kendo dojo, which led to her early interest in kendo. Houki even competes in kendo competitions at a national level, and was the winner of the national tournament that was hosted one year before the story of Infinite Stratos began. She is part of the kendo club at the IS academy. Her older sister, Tabane Shinonono, is the creator of the IS, though their relationship is strained. Six years ago, Ichika agreed to become her boyfriend if she could win the national kendo tournament of their grade. However, the day of the tournament is also the day the IS was introduced to the world. Due to the familal links to Tabane, Houki's family is placed under government protection and Houki is forced to withdraw from the kendo tournament. Since that incident, Houki resents her sister for moving her away from Ichika and abandoning their family.