Before we commence, I must notify you that I have only watched the Classroom of the Elite anime and read close to twenty chapters of the manga. Now, I am well aware that Light Novels are the source material and have the most narrative detail and development. I have lightly researched the differences between each medium, so I am not wholly ignorant of the happenings in the Light Novel. I just find it a chore to read. Therefore, I will be forced to personalise certain plot points more than otherwise. Reconstructing and managing the complicated plotlines and characterization will certainly be a tall order utilizing predominantly anime-only and manga knowledge. Lastly, don't hesitate to PM any important details from the Light Novel that you believe help flesh out the basis of the narration.
Mature Themes. OOC Warning! Expect a far more passionate and roguish Kiyotaka. Avaricious Kiyotaka. Imperious Kiyotaka. Neutral Evil Kiyotaka.
Crouching Tiger
Chapter 1: Devil on Campus
[Disclaimer: These are works of purely speculative fanfiction. It is not intended to infringe on any rights by any of the companies and/or individuals involved in the production of any series mentioned here]
(Tokyo)
'There is nothing more intoxicating than victory, and nothing more dangerous.' – Robert Greene
Excitement was the precise word to describe Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's current disposition.
Virulent blood coursed throughout his stalwart frame as the bus erased distance from his new domicile of education. The prestigious Advanced Nurturing High School. Constructed on a huge 600,000 square meter island, conjoined by two bridges connected to the mainland. A unique state-of-the-art facility that is more analogous to a university. Mandatory on-campus housing. Forbidden outside contact. Provisional class grading.
Most of all, extremely competitive.
What a beautiful environment for him to display his dominance amongst his peers.
Striving forth into the unknown was the rapture of discovery. A tenement of manhood. An opportunity to assert his worth and unleash his desire for conquest in all things. He'd face new challenges, new terrain, new foes and conscript gofers that will follow and enact his will. Finally, he was truly liberated from the overbearing, draconian man he called his father. His left hand reached down to clutch his knee to stop his energetic twitching. This bus was moving too slowly. Already his impatience had come to rankle with him. It seemed the White Room's merciless indoctrination wasn't taxing enough to sate his vigour.
What a pity.
He felt like a caged animal licking his chops, salivating at the sight of its cage unlocking after years in bondage.
Thankfully, he was jostled from his enthusiastic thoughts when a dispute between an adult woman and a fellow student stole the attention of the bus occupants. Ayanokoji glanced around and noticed the bus was near maximum capacity, he attributed the cause to the new school semester.
"Excuse me, can you give up your seat for the elderly lady, you're sitting in a priority seat?" asked the middle-aged woman dressed in a business suit, she frowned at the fact she had to ask him. When it was clear the short, old lady beside her was visibly struggling to stand as the crowded bus moved to and fro.
The blond, supercilious young man chuckled richly, unruffled by the scrutiny. His reverberant and suave voice drew uncomfortable glances from those around. "Hn! Now, why would I do such a thing? Just because she is old and I am young? Preposterous." He folded his burly arms and crossed his long legs with grace, somehow managing not to wrinkle his finely pressed school uniform. His smile was relaxed, displaying supreme confidence in his comportment despite the scrutiny he was under. "I don't see any reason to give up my seat to an ageing lady."
Kiyotaka suspected that the blue-blooded blond was accustomed to people marching to the beat of his drum. Just from observing the other passengers, his imposing physique coupled with his boastful nature he had managed to fray the nerves of the uneasy, silent commuters.
"Listen, young man!" the incensed woman raised her voice due to the boy's self-absorbed attitude. She glared and gestured a wild hand in his direction. "That chair you're sitting on is a priority seat and it's a given you should be considerate to your elders!" Everyone aboard watched on anxiously as the tension rose but none interfered.
"I don't understand your reasoning," he responded, his expression showcasing disinterest in what he considered an inconsequential dispute.
"What?!" The poor woman looked appalled by his conceitedness. Unable to comprehend someone could be so self-centred. Kiyotaka internally smiled at her stumped expression; he quirked a curious eyebrow when another person entered the quarrel. A cute, brown-haired girl also dressed in school uniform emerged from the mass.
"Um…" her voice was soft but fervent as she placed a hand on her chest. She faced the daunting blond without fear, earning looks of admiration from those observing. "I agree with this woman. The old lady looks uncomfortable standing up so can you please give up your priority seat."
"My, my, Pretty Girl," he spoke like a condescending king addressing an inexperienced handmaiden about her prescribed duties. Not even deigning to spare his schoolmate a precursory gander.
Kiyotaka snorted in his head as he wondered how he knew she was pretty when he - to his knowledge - had yet to lay eyes on her. This guy was a pugnacious character. Someone he must keep surveillance on, his perspicacious senses were screaming danger at first glance alone. Quite the thrilling antagonist, maybe one day he'd have the chance to test his mettle.
"While it may be a priority seat, there is no law requiring I relinquish it. Even if I'm young standing consumes more stamina than sitting. Why should I do something detrimental with no benefit to myself?" he said, his powerful voice reaching all ears.
The girl tried to maintain an upbeat demeanour; her smile was earnest. "I think you'd be contributing to society." She sent a heartfelt glance toward the weary old lady beside her. "And this lady seems to have trouble standing upright."
"I have no interest in contributing to society." He smirked before he flared his bang in a flamboyant fashion. "Besides… what about those sitting in the other seats? The difference between priority seats and others seems rather trivial to me."
The brunette girl's saddened eyes stared all around at the unresponsive passengers, the old lady sensing her dejection spoke up nervously for the first time.
"R-really, I'm fine but thank you."
The young girl's ruby eyes gazed down at the fragile old lady with great sympathy. She turned to the hushed crowd and made a desperate plea. "Excuse me! Is anyone willing to give up their seat?! Anyone? Please!" Her compassionate eye searched the rows.
Kiyotaka was entertained. How the pompous blond managed to shift the initial singular culpability from himself to everyone at large with a simple question was devious, much to the outrage of the crowd. This effectively made the seated passengers self-conscious about their passivity to the struggling old lady's plight, yet they nevertheless silently agreed with the rude blond's stance. Why should they give up their seat? Sure, they still all felt the ugly stain of guilt but not enough to drive any of them into action.
Although, Kiyotaka's cocksure gaze caught the eye of a dark-haired beauty.
This girl was different.
She displayed neither discomfort nor interest in the tension aboard. Of course, he would have to be blind to not notice her neatly sitting in the opposite chair, her slender fingers holding a black book entitled Crime & Punishment. It was a noteworthy title that Kiyotaka was more than familiar with. He did not expect to discover such melancholic reading material to be in the possession of a high school girl.
Interest arose in his heart as he examined his object of attraction.
She sat upright and poised, befitting of a noble lady.
Flaunting lengthy ebony hair, decorated by a braided strand held firm using a white ribbon. Along with smooth fair skin and pouty lips. Her aloof ruby eyes stared back at him, projecting a coldness that implied she was above the entire debacle. A stalemate ensued as either party refused to break eye contact. Kiyotaka found her feisty zeal to be delightful, watching her budding irritation rise, she seemed almost bewildered he wasn't fazed by her acerbic stare. Eventually, he turned his gaze ahead and saw her eyes narrow on his form when he arose from his seat without prompt.
Quick to dismiss her presence like she wasn't even there.
Kiyotaka smiled with confidence and lifted his hand. "Hey, I'd be happy to give up my seat." His unexpected announcement gained the attention of the bus as many eyes were fixated on him. He took the newfound interest with ease while he took up his white school bag.
The brown-haired girl and the businesswoman looked upon him favourably. His female schoolmate gave him a grateful smile and looked relieved. "Thank you so much!" she beamed giving his frame a swift once over with curiosity alight in her eye.
Next to her, the businesswoman sent him a smile. "I appreciate your kindness. If only more people your age had your courtesy." She shot the arrogant blond a scathing glance who reclined in his seat without a care in the world brandishing a proud smile.
He offset their praise with a casual shrug and approached the old lady on the moving bus. "Please, let me help you to your chair, it's the least I can do." His smile was charming as he offered his hand, her weathered face peered upwards at him. Taking a moment to judge his handsome face, lively amber eyes that exuded a dependable appeal. Her lips stretched north.
She placed her frail palm in his large hand as he guided the petite elderly lady through the other passengers to his former chair at the rear of the bus. "Thank you, my dear, you've done me a great favour."
"You give me too much praise; I only did what I felt was right." Kiyotaka undermined his input and noticed from the corner of his eye the dark-haired girl studying him with a frigid mask.
The old lady chortled as her eyes became glossy, reminiscing over a fond memory. "You remind me of my grandson, he's around your age and always so hard on himself. What is your name? I'll be sure to remember it."
Kiyotaka leaned forward and kept his voice even to not divulge his namesake to the crowd. "My name is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka." He helped the old lady get situated in her chair then she began to rummage in her purse for something or another.
"What a lovely name." She requested his hand and gifted him three mint sweets. "I know it's not much for a big teen like you but please take my humble offering. Now I must say thank you and goodbye as I'm sure you don't want to hear the ramblings of a boring old lady."
Kiyotaka chuckled at her honesty and accepted her sweets before he bid her ado and went to stand by the rear door. He held on to the tether to balance himself, his school bag positioned over his shoulder. He was grateful for the mints as fresh breath and pristine cleanliness were a huge component of effectual charisma. This is what he would need to enter a massive environment of unknown social factions that could be potential friends or foes. Ingratiating himself into the school social grid was the most effective strategy to blend in and obscure his moves, rather than isolating himself and standing out amongst the crowd.
Amid the rumbling noise of the bus engine, twenty minutes rolled on by as he viewed the Tokyo Bay waters. Once over the bridge, he could see the massive island where the entire school campus was made to be bare. Impressive in stature and opulence, his eyes wandered around the entrance while the bus ground to a halt. This place was going to be his home for the next three years. He could hear the spirited footsteps of his fellow first years rising to join his departure.
The electric doors swished open and he took his first step onto the burgundy and grey textured pavement. He adjusted his white bag before he observed the horde of hopeful students strolling up the stairs and through the entrance archway. Eager to enter the mix, he began to make his way forward.
"You there."
Yet before his foot could fall on the first step, he was called out by an impassive feminine voice. He smirked. Not at all surprised by the interference, for he knew that his actions on the bus had struck a nerve. After he had assisted the elderly woman, he could feel the eyes of the dark-haired beauty glower at him once every moment. Already, he had succeeded in invading her head with a simple act of moral superiority. He stared her down with a condescending zeal and did the so-called right thing when she didn't.
His fabricated implication was clear. He was better than her.
Now, she probably approached him to truly discover his reasoning and correct his wayward perception of her character. To reassert whatever flimsy beliefs she had swirling around in her pretty little head.
He turned a lazy eye toward her, stealing a few seconds to admire her athletic yet curvy physique in her school uniform. She was a short thing, standing just under five-foot-two with fit shapely legs shielded by black thigh-high socks and brown school shoes. She wore the school-issued red blazer with yellow accents, over a collared white shirt, finished with a blue bowtie. A white pleated skirt protected the modesty of her thighs.
"What?"
She flashed a moment of surprise due to his bluntness before she recollected herself, she waited for the horde of their peers to depart until it was just two.
The dark-haired beauty narrowed her gaze and stepped closer, silently insulted he didn't even turn to face her. She raised her head high and rested a hand upon her hip, the other held her school bag. "You were staring at me on the bus. Why is that?"
Kiyotaka decided he would play her game if only to analyse the mind behind the beauty. "I was wondering if you were going to offer your seat." He shifted sideways, displaying a shallow interest in the conversation.
Sakura petals danced in tandem with the rhythm of the wind and her ebony tresses. "No." Her stare replicated the chill of the breeze. "I had no intention to. Why does it matter to you?"
"It doesn't. It was merely curiosity to see if you'd differ from the other passengers, yet you all decided to not trouble yourselves with the situation." His tone held no judgement or castigation, just a simple observation. Like an author would describe ice being cold or fire being hot.
"Please." The impassive dark-haired beauty flicked her ebony hair in a flourish. "Don't put me in the same page as them. I didn't give up my seat because I saw no meaning in doing it and don't think for a second you're above me just because you did."
Kiyotaka chuckled at the absurdity of her statement.
No meaning? Ridiculous. Any logical person would be able to at the very least find several meanings to provide a seat for a frail elderly citizen, despite the fact they don't want to do it. You could be younger and more able-bodied to stand and help those weaker than yourself. The bus could be nearing your next destination. Maybe you enjoy aiding others in need or you gain a sweet self-applauding satisfaction. Many may believe it's a respectable courtesy that countless cultures adopt.
Or you could just want to aggravate a self-absorbed high school girl off her pedestal, not the greatest meaning, but still a meaning.
"I don't remember making a joke. What's so funny?" She furrowed her brows, aiming her heated gaze at his face. She did not like the belittling fashion in which he laughed and found this boy's swaggering attitude vexing.
"Your statement is a joke. What you just said is worse than only caring about yourself." Ayanokoji scoffed and gave her a feigned mournful look that irritated the ruby-eyed girl. "I think you have an antisocial personality disorder." He was purposefully being antagonistic to expose her chinks, yet he had heard enough to make the calculated assumption that this gorgeous girl was a misanthrope. A destructive weakness. A lone person, especially a girl, without allies and only enemies was bound to get slaughtered by the pack, her only saving grace was her beauty and intelligence.
"I didn't realise I was talking to a clinical psychologist," she rebutted with a wicked sarcastic veneer. "Oh wait, you're not. You're just a foolhardy boy. So, maybe next time you can keep pseudo psychological diagnostic to yourself. Hmm?" Luminous lips flatlined into a venomous countenance.
Kiyotaka only smirked in reply. She was mad and so feisty. "Then what is your reason, sweetheart?"
"Don't call me that!" The dark-haired girl squared off to him, unaware she'd become entirely engaged in their conversation. "If you must know, I just act according to my own convictions. I'm different than someone who tries their best to avoid troublesome matters."
His cold eyes darkened as he peered deep into her soul. "Is that what you learned from Raskolnikov? You seem to be emulating the tenue of his philosophy."
"W-what?" she stuttered in shock as impactful memories suddenly froze her features. She cautiously eyed his languorous approach until he was an arms-length away, this position highlighted the considerable size difference between them. She became keenly aware he stood at a solid five-foot-ten, easily a whole head taller and over twenty-five kilograms heavier. Her nostrils flared as she involuntarily inhaled the enchanting scent of his bergamot, vanilla and spicy mixed cologne, coupled with the effortless way he enunciated his words made her heated.
Then he had the gall to smirk at her with a face that wasn't hard on her eyes.
She hated him.
"Similar to the son of Pulcheria Alexandrovna, you probably alienate yourself from social interactions and because of your pride and intellectualism you grew to despise your peers, solely viewing them as a means to an end. That's probably why in your vainglorious mind you didn't see meaning to believe in commonly accepted moral standards for a purpose other than your own benefit. I'm truly curious if you'll crumble under the guilt like Raskolnikov abiding by such a creed when you eventually go too far or do you possess the same mettle of Napoleon Bonaparte as he idolised."
The dark-haired girl was tongue-tied for an elongated period as she appraised the boy before her in wary light. He'd somehow figured out how the book influenced her perspective while being afforded only minor details. It was… frightening. After regaining her composure, due to this strange boy's words hitting too close to home for comfort.
She bit her lip and glared at him in stubborn denial. "…Y-you've read Crime & Punishment?"
"I've read all twelve of Fyodor Dostoevsky's completed novels."
"Hn! Well, you can forgive me for being doubtful." She mocked him with a cruel smile, giving him a detractive stare from head to toe. "Honestly, judging from your build all your growth went to brawn instead of brains. You hardly look like the type to be an avid reader."
Kiyotaka was amused by her icy candour. He shrugged with a mischievous widening of the lips. "You know what they say, looks can be deceiving, right?"
"Certainly true." The dark-haired beauty's expression was humourless as she stepped closer after pulling a concealed object from her school bag. "Just as you may think I'm harmless." The intimate distance revealed the pleasant scent of her lavender hair fragrance. "Allow me to warn you the next time you decide to provide one of your unsolicited psychological evaluations on my character…" She rose to her toes and brought her lips to his ear to softly whisper in a voice laced with poison. "I'll stab you in your femoral artery and watch you bleed out as the light slowly dies from your eyes."
Unmoved by the hyperbolic threat, he glanced down to see her brandish a compass right in front of the said artery. His left leg to be specific, signifying that she was probably right-hand dominant. "My apologies, I'm but a foolhardy boy." He stepped away with a chuckle, further irritating the girl with his cavalier attitude. Concluding that this conversation was over, he spun on his tail and made swift steps up the entrance stairs.
"Wait!"
He paused without turning back, feeling her eyes glare at his form. He readjusted his bag and threw a lazy glance over his shoulder to the dark-haired beauty. She looked incensed at his insolent disengagement from their conversation. "What now?" he asked with impatience.
"Tell me your… name?" she demanded, taking several bold steps forward.
"Isn't it common courtesy to offer your name before requesting another's?" The rhetorical question triggered her to grit her teeth and look decidedly frustrated with the turn of events. Enigmatic amber eyes watched her like a hawk, awaiting her answer. Several moments later, he continued once – due to her reluctance - she had elapsed his patience to provide a response.
"…H-Horikita Suzune!"
He smirked when she finally broke, it seemed he had made a decent-sized impression on the antisocial girl. The discomfort in her voice led him to believe she wasn't accustomed to voluntarily requesting someone's name. On a whim, he decided not to return his name… at least right now. If only to extract more emotional investment from Horikita Suzune, until she resolved this issue she'd hold resentment for him, thereby living rent-free in her head.
"Hey! Wait! I demand to know your name?!"
He disappeared into the school grounds, internally guffawing at the rage in her voice as she power-walked up the stairs to discover no sight of him once she reached the top.
"That insufferable braggart!"
/~/
Tigers were solitary animals.
They spent the vast majority of their existence alone in the wilderness. Outside of mating and cub rearing. They hunted alone. Ate alone. Slept alone. Patrolled alone. Fought alone. It was rare they'd come into contact with others of their kind. If they did it was a life-or-death encounter. A feral beast did not belong in the village amongst the people, for it would only incite fear and prey on the vulnerable populace.
What was a beast supposed to do when surrounded by an exorbitant amount of easy game?
Except to gorge.
Despite his unruly eagerness to run amok, he understood patience is key.
He must respect the element of surprise.
That was the feeling resonating in his excitable blood as Kiyotaka ambled the packed hallways of his new school. He was hard-pressed to recall more than several memories where he was completely surrounded by so many people. Inside the facilities were just as modernistic and pristine as the exterior. Not an expense was spared when constructing this school. He seriously doubted even the upper-echelon universities in the world could match the extravagance of this campus. To every juvenile teen trafficking the halls, they were all privileged to attend this educational institution.
Cutting a corner, he observed several second and third-year students already in their designated peer groups. They walked and frolicked the hallways with experience, while it was easy to pinpoint a lost or overwhelmed freshman. Granted, numerous freshmen were excited as well. Kiyotaka slowed his pace down to nil when his curious eye caught a raucous gang of tall second-year boys, most likely the basketball team, trailing amongst them was a cluster of lively chatting girls.
Quintessential popular crowd.
Those in their path wisely avoided their direction as a few boys were roughhousing in the hallway.
One person did not notice.
A strong shove sent the big, laughing boy careening into the oblivious person.
Bang!
"Ahh!"
The unsuspecting victim crashed into the linoleum floor and winced in pain; an expression of fright invaded their features. Innocent blue eyes shook with nervousness, seemingly overwhelmed by the fast-paced environment.
"Hideki!"
One of the second-year girls cried out, not to warn him of his blunder but to remind him of their planned date at the mall. She dragged the tall boy by the arm with a pouty smile before the named Hideki could become aware of the person he knocked over in the congested crowd of moving students.
"Don't forget you owe me a date after school!" she whined loudly; she gained a chorus of laughter from her group of friends when the towering boy she clung to groaned.
"Just wait until I finish with practice, you know I can't slack off now that I'm a starter." He grinned cockily and slung his long arm over his blonde girlfriend's shoulder. The group disappeared up the stairs as the fallen person lay forgotten.
Kiyotaka bent down to pluck a pair of red spectacles that had fallen into his path after the collision. He narrowed his gaze on the item and immediately noted they were fake; the glass lacked the distortion to enhance vision. How strange. Now, who would wear fake glasses at school unless they wanted to hide something? He examined the girl's body language on the floor as he approached. Her shoulders were hunched close, her gradient blue eyes were skittish and downward. She wrapped her arms around her body like she was trying to hide from the world.
This girl was sorely lacking in confidence.
A savage smirk gleamed inside his sinister head.
"Hey," he announced his presence smoothly, his smile was relaxed but confident. "Are you okay?"
"U-um… yes! I-I'm fine, thank you," she stuttered out, the girl refused to meet his eye due to her shyness. For some reason she was determined to keep her head down, her gaze frantic as she searched the floor back and forth but all she saw were the shoes of the students walking the hallway. She seemed to panic once what she sought couldn't be found. "Oh no…"
He observed her gradual breakdown and realised this girl must be hiding something important. Probably a secret identity she advertised elsewhere that would explain her strong reluctance to show her face and why she so desperately pursued her fake glasses. No matter. If he decided he liked this girl like the feisty Suzune, he would soon learn everything about her life.
"You're looking for these, right?" He knelt to one knee to level with the girl. No need to come off as threatening to a lost dear wandering in a tiger's territory. He presented her red glasses much to her astonishment. "They fell in front of me when that jerk bumped into you, luckily they're not broken." He smiled as her relieved eyes finally landed on his face and froze for a moment, she then blushed and averted her gaze in embarrassment when she realised she was staring.
She carefully took back her frames and fitted them back on her face. "…Uh, thank you. I can't see without my glasses," she muttered, her eyes lowered to the floor once more. "I'm… sorry for troubling y-you."
Kiyotaka snickered in his head at her bold-faced lie. Unlike the feisty Suzune, he chose a calmer refinement to beguile the delicate, introverted girl before him. "You're not troubling me at all." His expression was earnest whilst he offered her a gentle hand. "Please, let me help you up."
The shy girl regarded him cautiously for a moment, slowly appraising his features. The world around her became distorted, in silence she stared at the rich brown-haired boy with light-tanned skin kneeling before her. His confident smile and spirited amber eyes focused solely on her with understanding and patience. Eventually, she nervously placed her hand in his, dipping her head to hide her cherry cheeks. He gently hoisted her back to her feet with little difficulty and it was then she noticed how rugged his hand was and how much he towered over her.
The mature allure of his cologne drifted to her senses.
"Um… thank you for helping me up," she murmured, her eyes floating elsewhere. She clasped her fingers in front of her skirt and lowered her head again. Visibly uncomfortable with speaking to a stranger.
"You're welcome." He smiled with a hint of worry. "You're not hurt at all, are you?"
The shy girl's head shot up to shake an anxious negative. "O-oh no! I'm fine, besides I wouldn't want to trouble you!"
"As I said before, you're not troubling me," he reassured her, releasing a chuckle. "But I'm glad to know that you aren't hurt." He eyed the shy girl with significant intrigue as she fumbled about how to respond to his kind words.
Despite her modesty, Kiyotaka's sharp discernment could easily recognise a beautiful girl in hiding. A gorgeous, fair-skinned doll face with gradient blue eyes and full pink lips. Standing five-foot tall, she boasted a well-endowed, voluptuous physique that many women would die for and many men would yearn to take pleasure from. Including luscious, thigh-length pink hair styled in low pigtails.
How a bombshell girl like this managed to just stumble across his path was a phenomenon.
The fact she was so lacking in self-esteem and confidence was bringing cattle to the slaughter. He decided then and there that he would also bring this girl under his authority like Suzune.
Cemented on his conviction, he saved the poor girl from her social indecision and carried the conversation. "My name is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka from Class 1-D, what's your name?" he asked with bright and curious amber eyes.
The shy girl blinked in surprise and expressed a hint of relief that he eviscerated the awkward lapses she couldn't help but make in a social interaction. "Um… my name is Sakura Airi, I'm also in Class 1-D."
This time she spoke with a spark more confidence, now she had attributed his face to a name it harvested a tiny sense of comfort. An exchange of names was the foundation for building familiarity. The fact that Kiyotaka had already found her glasses and helped her off the floor and had so far been nothing but a gentleman only boosted her comfort level. Hope began to blossom in her heart when it became known they shared the same class.
A freight of anxiety was transported off her shoulders.
"Sweet." He smirked, pleased by her answer. "That means we're in the same class. It's so much easier when you already know someone, right?"
"Y-yes!" Airi blurted out, and she covered her mouth in embarrassment due to her hopeful excitement, after composing herself she tried again in a more balanced tone. "…I mean yes, I was kinda nervous about meeting new people." She fidgeted about and mustered the courage to meet his lively gaze. "I'm not really good with strangers."
Now they were making progress, Kiyotaka ruminated over her demeanour. Slowly but surely her confidence was growing throughout the exchange, stuttering less, longer sentences and the sudden reveal of her difficulty with strangers meant she was beginning to trust him, he was confident that Sakura would soon be under his thumb. Possessing his charming good looks and smooth mouthpiece certainly made swaying her over much easier.
"That's fine, you can just roll with me and we'll keep each other company, are you okay with that, Sakura?" He stuck his hand out and flashed a smirk overflowing with confidence. "I don't want to force you or anything."
Airi veered up in awe of the tall boy exuding a larger-than-life presence. His posture was square and his head held high as his eyes displayed an incredible sureness in himself that she could only dream of. "You aren't f-forcing me because…" Airi gave him a soft smile and joined her hand with his, idly feeling the size difference between their hands. "I think… I'd really l-like that, Ayanokoji-kun." She flushed, biting her lip.
"Great, then let's walk to class together. We don't want to be late on our first day, right?"
"Mmm!" Airi was happy to nod, humming her agreement and fell into step beside her new… friend. Her earlier anxiety had subsided thanks to his company, she relaxed and was content to follow his lead. One major difference she immediately noticed walking with Kiyotaka is the space. Whereas just before she'd have to shift and move around people obstructing her path, now she was gifted a wide berth to walk a straight line.
She gave a bashful glance upwards at the boy of interest as his stocky frame stalked forward with spirited steps, causing those on his route to divert their position.
The brown-haired boy guided his female companion toward their class and followed the signs marking the walls to figure out where to go, there was no need to rush as they still had twenty minutes until homeroom began. So, he maintained a sedated pace that would allow him to talk to his new acquaintance.
He initiated some small talk to assist in soothing her reticence to express herself. He would have to ask a question that required a direct answer, any indirect question would only result in her panic about how to have the perfect reply. Right now, it was a necessary method to interact with her but even a schemer like him had his limits.
In future, he'd definitely take time to bolster her overall self-esteem.
"I don't think I've ever seen a school as extravagant as this before, what about you, Sakura?" he asked, his eyes wandering over the pristine décor in the hallway and the classrooms they passed. He settled his gaze on her face with a warm countenance.
"…No, I d-don't think I've ever seen a school as nice as this either," she said quietly, somewhat flustered under his interest in wanting to know her opinion.
"That doesn't surprise me." Kiyotaka nodded and slotted his hands in his green slacks. "I'm actually pretty excited to go to school here and can't wait to see everything it has to offer." He sent her a curious glance. "How do you feel about it? You can be honest with me." His relaxed delivery dripped with charm.
"It's kinda… e-embarrassing to say," Airi stammered in a whisper, her attention glued to the floor. "But I was very… n-nervous about starting a new school and meeting new people."
"That's not embarrassing at all," he said with vehemence, earning a gasp of astonishment from the pink-haired bombshell.
"I-it's not?" Feeling stirred by his proclamation, she whipped her eyes to his and paid close attention.
"No, Sakura." He shook his head and gave her a serious expression that produced a gulp from the girl. It was now time to capitalise on her insecurity and accelerate her emotional dependence on him. He snuck a quick gander into a classroom with closed blinds and then once more broke the touch barrier before she could react. "We need to talk." He stole her hand and dragged her into a vacant music room.
"A-Ayanokoji-kun?!" she exclaimed with a scarlet blush dominating her face, her heart racing at his spontaneity.
Kiyotaka was pleased when she presented no resistance to his charge. That signified a level of trust. He shut the door behind himself, muting the outside chatter, and faced the nervous bombshell who would soon belong to him. Alone in the room, Kiyotaka's features morphed into genuine concern. He walked up to Sakura and rested a gentle hand on her shoulder, already planting the seeds of customary physical contact between them.
His female companion looked into his passionate eyes anxiously. Overwhelmed by the slew of new events he had brought her into.
"Sakura," he called to her. Relaxed and direct.
"Y-yes?" she swallowed, left arrested by his dominant aura and enticing cologne assaulting her senses in such proximity, she was secretly afraid she'd somehow managed to upset him with what she said.
"You have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. Being nervous about attending a new school or meeting strangers is completely natural. Almost every person in the world is afraid of the unknown, yes, and that includes fully grown adults. So, do you understand you have nothing to be ashamed of?"
Airi blinked in amazement as this boy she'd just met acknowledged her feelings and put forth a concerted effort to make her stop putting herself down. "…I u-understand."
Kiyotaka sighed deeply and removed his hand from her shoulder, he shifted sideways and bore a forlorn stare out the window. "Can… I tell you something personal, Sakura?" he asked with hesitance, freeing a hand from his pocket to rub his neck.
Airi's heart softened upon witnessing his sombre visage. She desired to hear his problems as she felt indebted to him for aiding her in her time of need. She raised a palm to rest it on her chest. "I want to… listen, Ayanokoji-kun."
"I wouldn't usually say this to anyone I just met, but…" He steered his vision to meet hers, exhibiting a hint of vulnerability. "I feel like I can trust you." He walked two steps forward and ran a familiar finger over an acoustic guitar's tuning keys, taking a moment to emote his words while she waited with bated breath. "I have a hard time trusting people too. I was a hot-headed misfit who was afraid to get hurt. I always struggled to make friends or fit in back in middle school and the mere thought of approaching someone would make me panic. I hated school. I hated being alone. Worst of all, I hated myself because I lacked the will to change it." He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth, visibly embittered over the memory.
"Ayanokoji-kun…" she whispered his name speechless, gawking at him like his existence was too good to be true. Every word he spoke shook her to the core, and feeling all the emotions he expressed deeply resonate within her. He understood unequivocally how she felt.
Captivated, her feet carried her closer as he spoke more.
He rose his head and stalked closer to gaze into her glossy eyes. He smiled softly. "But with you, I feel like I can trust you for some reason like you can understand me, that's why I wanted to help you and keep you company and be your friend." Suddenly, he groaned and palmed his face as if embarrassed. "Ahh! What am I saying? You probably think I'm weird for saying stuff like this to a person they just-"
"No!" Airi cried in a rare display of exuberance. "I like y-you too, Ayanokoji-kun! I don't think you're weird at all and I know what it's like to not fit in too! It would make me very happy to be your friend!" she panted in excess, starstruck blue eyes staring up at him with a desperate need for companionship.
Kiyotaka blinked in shock before his lips stretched north. "I'm glad to have met you, Sakura. As your friend, I promise I'll help you and keep you company so that you won't be alone anymore," he vowed with tremendous tenacity. He provoked a startled squeak from Airi when he pulled her into an unexpected hug. "You don't have to be nervous anymore…" his impassioned whisper caressed her ear like honey as she blushed up a storm.
She embraced him back with a wet smile; too overcome with joy to worry about her shyness.
"Thank you so m-much, Ayanokoji-kun." She sniffled, choking back a sob.
A savage smirk split his lips as he inhaled the appealing strawberry odour of hair.
It was child's play to exploit her crippling insecurities. In their very first meeting, he'd already caused a substantial impact on her heart and psyche. Greater yet, this was only the beginning. Soon he would have her literally eating out of his palm. How her legal guardians allowed her to roam free with such debilitating self-esteem was a gross display of parental negligence.
Their loss.
Now Sakura Airi would belong to him and live for him.
Even now he imagined how her buxom body would look naked beneath him when he felt her ample breasts squish into his abdominals.
/~/
"…This campus is pretty big, huh? It must be so e-easy to get lost." During their journey, the couple had realised the complexity of the facility, and Airi found it a tad disconcerting.
"I had the exact same thoughts; that's why as soon as I have the time, I'm going to explore the entire campus. The sooner I know where everything is, the easier it will be for me to settle in."
Airi took keen notice of his prudence, she appreciated his dauntless personality to easily tackle responsibilities that she fussed and fretted over. "That… seems like a s-smart thing to do."
He leaned closer with a cheeky grin, cupping a hand around his mouth like a child telling a secret. "You wanna come on my top-secret campus tour too?"
Airi rose a dainty palm to her mouth to cover her cute giggles. "I'd… like to come along too if y-you don't mind."
"Of course, I don't mind, Sakura, you're my kind friend." He chuckled warmly and initiated physical contact again by placing an arm over her shoulder. Guiding her into a casual one-armed hug, triggering blood to pool on her cheeks. "Don't ever think I'd find your presence bothersome. I'll always be available to help you." He peered down at the petite girl and narrowed his expression into a stern gaze. "Is that understood?"
Sakura felt an electric chill run down her spine at his demand. Lost in his worldly amber eyes, she sunk into his muscular frame and began to nod her head in a euphoric daze. "I understand, Ayanokoji-kun."
Then he presented a warm-hearted smile that made Sakura's heart melt. "Good!" He pulled her body into a deeper hug with his chin resting on her head before he released her.
Following their special moment of intimacy, Kiyotaka continued to guide his new pink-haired companion to their classroom. The results of his persuasion played out right before his eyes, Airi was far more trusting of him and a little bit more talkative. He also became aware of how she erased the distance between them, closer than arm's reach, evidently drawing comfort from his leadership.
A corner later, the duo arrived at their destination.
Class 1-D.
Upon entering their new homeroom for the foreseeable future, several eyes were drawn to their position as they emerged from the rear door. There were already a few pockets of students mingling about. Funnily enough, he recognised the bubbly brown-haired girl from the bus including the supercilious blond who refused to give up his seat. As he expected the sociable girl had already made acquaintances with two female students and the blond reclined with his feet crossed on the desk whilst he filed his nails.
He ignored them for now and focused on finding their seats first.
"Let's go find your desk first."
"O-okay."
Like a loyal lamb, Sakura trailed behind Kiyotaka as he searched each name labelled on the fixed, silver desks. He stopped when he caught sight of her name on the third chair in the last row.
"Here you are, my lady." Kiyotaka tapped two fingers on her desk with a teasing smirk before pulling her seat out.
She blushed and tried to stifle her thrilled smile. "…Thank y-you, Ayanokoji-kun. You've been very helpful." She deposited her bottom on her seat before she displayed a hopeful shade in her eye. "Um, where are you going to be sitting?" she asked with a deeply invested interest in his placement as her eyes raced around all the available desks. Beginning to worry he'd be positioned too far for her to talk to him.
"Hmm, let's see."
Kiyotaka would prefer to remain near his charge but he wouldn't be averse to some distance. She required a modicum of independence otherwise she'd be an occasional burden to superintend. He strolled past the fourth desk and snorted in amusement when he saw the name labelled on the desk. He then came to a halt at the last row window seat. Confirming his name and occupying his chair, he smiled over to a relieved Sakura.
"Aren't we lucky? Only one chair away."
"Y-yes!" Airi beamed as she rested a hand over her delighted heart. "I was worried you'd be too far for u-us to talk."
Kiyotaka winked, flashing a playful smirk. "Heh. You can always count on me, Sakura."
She flushed and averted her gaze, fiddling with her fingers under her desk as she was swept away in a torrent of emotions. Airi could not remember the last time she'd been so excited. In the looming days of the new semester, she'd been plagued with anxiety, tarnishing her dreams into a depressing cloud of rain. She feared she wouldn't make friends. She feared she'd be an outcast. She feared she would be forced to venture her entire school life… alone.
Until Ayanokoji Kiyotaka suddenly emerged out of the blue like a figment of her imagination, kneeling before her with a bright smile like a knight in shining armour. Standing tall and confident. He was so nice and easy for her to talk to. He understood her pain. He encouraged her to believe in herself. She admired his handsome smile.
Back at his desk, he observed Sakura's torrential exhilaration from the corner of his calculated eye. He'd give her time to stabilise her emotions. Through the efforts of his scheming, he had surely caused a tsunami of pivotal sensations to discombobulate her current headspace. All according to his plan. He rested his chin on his palm as he seemingly gazed out the window, instead, he was committed to analysing his classmates as they chattered away. He made a selection of top picks to associate with.
People that would offer him some utility.
He stared at the boy sitting in front of him when he reached a hand back to scratch his neck.
Callouses?
Red blisters decorated his knuckle as if it had been marred by friction. The kind formed from excessive punching. Kiyotaka's interest rose at the sign of a potential fighter, definitely worth further enquiry.
"Yo." His voice was levelled loud enough to reach only his ears, of course, Sakura was currently watching his every move so she heard him speak.
The dark magenta-haired boy lazily blinked, displaying a hint of partial surprise as he swivelled in his seat. He never expected anyone to start a conversation with him so he was curious about who the initiator was. His sharp magenta gaze regarded the stocky brown-haired boy who sat behind him. He assigned him a smidgin of respect when his eyes never wavered from his.
"My name is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, what's yours?" he asked curiously, sticking a hand out in greeting.
The boy glanced at his rugged palm with a raised eyebrow before he accepted his handshake. "I'm Miyake Akito," he spoke lazily.
"Nice to meet you," Kiyotaka smirked as he increased the strength of his grip and was amused to see Akito respond in kind, his competitive expression matching his. "That's a pretty strong grip, you have. You train?"
"Thanks. Muay Thai and archery, and… you?" Akito began to grit his teeth, struggling to match the strength of his new acquaintance. He sighed in relief when their handshake was finally broken, he gave his classmate an impressed look as he shook blood back into his hand.
"Let's just say, I know the pain of shin splints intimately."
Akito winced with empathy before a small, grisly smirk crossed his features. "I know exactly what you mean but as my trainer used to say, 'the pain will leave once it's finished teaching you'."
Kiyotaka paused and allowed what he just said to simmer in his head. "Wow…" he stared at his amused classmate in awe. "That's gotta be one of the best quotes I've heard in my life."
Akito chuckled. "You're welcome. I had the exact same reaction."
"Hey, Miyake, do you know if this campus has any gyms specifically for combat training?"
"No, that's what I'm desperate to find out." Akito punched his fist into his palm, aiming a challenging eye at his classmate. "If they do have one, we should definitely spar some time and I'll show you the ropes."
"You show me the ropes?" His voice was slathered with scepticism. He liked the fire in his spirit and was pleased with his decision to interact with him. Hopefully, he would prove a worthy ally.
"There's more to fighting than grip strength, Ayanokoji."
"True but, I haven't shown you all my tricks yet-"
"If it isn't the fleeing coward. What an unpleasant coincidence."
Kiyotaka sighed with an amused countenance, he looked at a confused Akito as he stared back and forth between him and the new inclusion. "We'll talk later, Miyake. This strange girl keeps on stalking me."
"Okay, man, good luck." Akito chuckled as he returned to the desk, quick to avoid the wrath of the scowling girl.
"Are you an imbecile? You must truly have deluded intellection of yourself if you for once believed I was stalking you. If it were up to me, I'd much rather be as far away from you as possible."
Kiyotaka glanced at the vitriolic beauty situating herself on the neighbouring desk, he rotated in his chair to face her and formed a cocky smirk. "Zune-chan, where have you been? I've been worried sick waiting for you this whole time."
Suzune froze as an acidic substance bubbled beneath her skin. She slowly twisted her head and locked her vision on his frame. "If you call me that one more time; I will stab you," she warned in a frosty whisper.
Did this girl truly believe she could intimidate him on any level? Delusional. It was akin to a bobcat challenging a tiger. No contest. If he didn't find her physically attractive and see utility potential in her, he wouldn't have been so forgiving of her threats or attitude. Alas, the opportunity to crush her spirit would soon be seized by him in due time.
"Zune-chan," he taunted with an artificial disappointed tone, fearless of her response. "Using violence against someone you just asked to be your friend is shameful."
Suzune's jaw tightened as she weighed the unfavourable odds of assaulting him without getting caught. "Count yourself lucky there are so many witnesses around. Furthermore, I never asked for you to be my friend and you still owe me your name."
Kiyotaka looked confused, grasping his chin. "Didn't I tell you?"
"Stop acting like a fool." She sent him an icy glare. "I demand to know your name right now as I gave you mine."
"In that case..."
"What are you waiting for? Speak."
"If I tell you that means we're friends, right?"
"Not in the slightest. I do not need or want friends." Suzune sniffed in distaste, she gave him a pointed frown. "It also goes against your earlier point about common courtesy if you don't reciprocate. So, spill."
"Sorry but I've since been inspired to have a change of heart." Kiyotaka's mouth twisted into a devilish smile. "I see no meaning in common courtesy because of my convictions."
Flabbergasted, Suzune's eyes widened as her mouth parted before she quickly pressed her pink lips into a flat line. She stared at him for an elongated period of edgy silence as she envisioned strangling the life out of this infuriating boy. Why must fate curse her? What did she do to be stationed beside the most condescending boy she'd ever laid eyes on? To think he would be so sardonic to use her own words against her as if she a fool. She felt embarrassed, her features crinkled into a sourness.
She hated him.
"You… have some nerve-"
"Ok-ok, I'll stop teasing you," he chuckled at the sight of her mope which earned him an instant glare. "My name is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, pleased to make your acquaintance, Horikita Suzune."
"…Ayanokoji Kiyotaka?" she tested his name on her tongue in a whisper as she examined the wolfish boy with considerable intrigue and wariness. She hated to admit it but there was something very unsettling about his aura that she would be hard-pressed to pinpoint, and it only made Suzune all the more inquisitive. Eventually, Suzune sighed with respite as she folded her arms, regaining her impassive image. "I can hardly say the same. You've been nothing but displeasure since I met you."
He shrugged, unconcerned with her insult. "That'll change now that we're friends."
Suzune clenched her teeth and furrowed her defined brows. "We are not friends!" she stressed her words and stewed in frustration when he exhibited no sign of conceding. Unaware that she was so engulfed in their energised conversation, she had forsaken her original plan to read her book, Crime & Punishment, which lay forgotten in her bag.
Deliberating on his next course of action to help ingratiate Suzune closer to his side. He looked over to Airi and ignored Suzune's suspicious gaze tracking his movements as he stood and strolled over to place himself between either girl's desk. Slotting his hands in his pockets, Kiyotaka slouched his rear against Suzune's desk, much to her annoyance.
She bore an aggravated glare that tried to burn a hole in his head. "Ayanokoji-kun… please remove yourself from my desk right now before I stab you."
Kiyotaka ignited her aggravation higher when he instead smiled at the spectacled girl neighbouring her desk, disregarding her threat. To Suzune's puzzlement, the pink-haired girl returned his expression. The familiarity in the pink-haired girl's eyes sparked a hint of curiosity in Suzune's head to douse her anger. Against better judgement, she unexpectedly fell silent to watch the mysterious Ayanokoji interact with someone other than her.
Throughout his conversations with Miyake and Horikita, Kiyotaka was cognizant of Airi's continued surveillance. She anxiously snooped on his every interaction with rapt attention. He saw in her gradient blues she was daunted by his sociability. Yet she was too nervous to interject. He gleefully observed her bite her lip and squirm her legs, worried he would forget and abandon her, hence her relieved expression of joy when he smiled at her. He understood, she was drawn self-conscious under the weighted possibility he would favour talking to people with far more confidence.
He was forced to inwardly guffaw at the absurdity of Airi's pathetic self-esteem. The poor girl was naïve enough to believe he would dispose of her for her lack of intellectual capacity or social skills. Ridiculous.
She did not truly know why he prized her.
If she wasn't an incredibly attractive girl, he would've had no interest in her. A person with such feeble confidence is useless. Unless you're a desirable woman. The only reason he chose to invest and capitalise in her overall development was for her body. She should thank the goddess of beauty, Benzaiten, for blessing her with superior physical features. Because if she were ugly her existence would be infinitely more laborious.
"Horikita Suzune, I'd like you to meet my good friend, Sakura Airi." He sent Airi an encouraging nod, ordering with his eyes for her to follow through.
Airi gulped and hastily nodded, eager for his approval and a new friend. Airi shyly waved. "…It's very nice to meet you, Horikita-san." She presented the dark-haired girl with a nervous smile; her tone was inked with hopeful innocence.
A stunned Suzune looked between the innocent Airi and the troublesome Kiyotaka. Noting the polarity in personalities. She lightly sighed beginning to realise the futility of avoiding the situation; Ayanokoji would only be a thorn in her side. She scrutinised the gentle girl for a period of silence and decided to have the decency to reciprocate the rare display of genuine kindness.
Suzune couldn't believe what she was about to do and blamed the irksome boy, currently using her desk as a place to lounge.
"Allow me to extend the same courtesy." She fired a mocking glance at Kiyotaka before focusing on her female classroom neighbour. "It's a pleasure to meet you too," came the polite greeting.
Kiyotaka rose an irritated brow, feeling a little envious. "I know Sakura is an angel but why weren't you this nice to me?"
Sakura blushed at the compliment, holding a palm to her cheek. "A-Ayanokoji-kun!"
Upon seeing his reaction, Horikita's pink lips curled into a cold smirk. Delighted to finally know he could be riled, perhaps she could use this against him. This encouraged Suzune to reward Airi with a pleased expression. "Because unlike you Sakura doesn't appear to find being a nuisance amusing." Now she was truly curious about Sakura and how was she connected to Ayanokoji. "How did a vexatious person like you even meet a nice girl like her?" she mocked.
Kiyotaka delivered a smile to Airi before he turned to Suzune, he aimed a frown at her visibly bothered by Suzune's difference in treatment until he managed to compose himself whilst guileful ruby eyes analysed his exposed features. "We happened to bump into each other in the hallway, we were both lost so we decided to walk together when we noticed we were in the same class."
Airi was touched by the fact he omitted the personal details and smiled softly, finally speaking up. "Yes, Ayanokoji-kun was very helpful to me and I'm… happy that I ran into h-him."
Kiyotaka appreciated her praise. "You flatter me, Sakura." He shot a pointed glance at the dark-haired girl. "If only you could be that nice," he teased under his breath.
Suzune snorted and gave him a belittling stare. "How surprising, it seems you do have some redeeming qualities that I have yet to see."
He shrugged with an assured smirk. "Fortunate for you, now that we're friend's you'll eventually see them too."
Suzune scowled. "You are delusional. How many times must I tell you, we are not friends." She folded her arms and closed her eyes, raising her head high in a conceited fashion. "I do not need friends." Her words were callous and emphatic.
Kiyotaka ignored her and directed his attention to the conflicted Airi. "Ignore her cruel words, Sakura. She doesn't mean it, it's a natural defence mechanism to ward off people intimidated by her beauty." The mischievous shine in his eyes spelt trouble. "I mean just look at her? Don't you think she's gorgeous?" He gestured a hand toward the frigid gal.
Suzune stuttered, rendered speechless. "W-what?" Caught off guard by the sudden change in conversation. "B-but that-"
Sakura's eye's widened in empathy and nodded earnestly as if just now realising the reason for her defensive behaviour. She stared at Suzune's defined features with admiration. "You're right, Ayanokoji-kun, I think Horikita-san is very b-beautiful and… sometimes that can attract the wrong attention."
Kiyotaka showed a proud smile. "I knew you'd understand."
Suzune's cheeks glowed red as she screwed at Kiyotaka. "T-that has absolutely nothing to do with the discussion at hand, so stop making baseless assumptions about my decision to refuse friendship." Much to her exasperation, her complaint went unheard.
Kiyotaka continued speaking to Airi, intentionally ignoring Suzune's objections. He pointed a finger at himself then at the inquisitive and enthusiastic Airi. "Anyway, starting today, you and I are going to be friends with Zune-chan," he spoke with absolute belief, definitive in his decree. In silence, both girls were swept up in the dangerous waves of his infectious charisma.
Airi looked between the resolute Kiyotaka and the stumped Suzune with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. "Um… I really like your idea, Ayanokoji-kun but I… don't think Horikita-san looks too h-happy about it." She fiddled with her fingers, sending an apologetic glance to Suzune.
Kiyotaka waved a dismissive hand before he flashed a confident wink. "Don't worry about her, trust me, deep down Zune-chan is overjoyed we're all going to be her friend. She'll warm up to you in no time." His assurance could not be denied.
Airi offered an optimistic smile. "I… would like to try being friends with Horikita-san. I just don't want to u-upset her."
Suzune had a moment of softness and made a rare compromise, won over by the girl's genuine nature. More importantly, she wanted to exploit Kiyotaka's exposed lack of composure when she openly displayed favour for Airi. Enlightened with this knowledge, her wariness of him dwindled. As long as he desired her validation, she could take advantage of him as she saw fit. Also - she would admit this to no one - perhaps an infinitesimal side of her trusted Airi's goodwill.
"Sakura-san, unlike Ayanokoji-kun, you haven't done anything to upset me, therefore… I suppose I wouldn't outright refuse your offer of alliance."
Airi blinked in astonishment, quickly shifting her gaze between Kiyotaka and Suzune. Did she truly have two friends now? It made her eyes shine with moisture as she gave Suzune a grateful smile, clutching her shirt tightly. "Horikita-san, you are too kind, I p-promise to not take your trust for granted."
Suzune glanced away anxiously, appearing unsettled by Airi's sincerity. "I only chose you because I think you're a better person than Ayanokoji-kun," she muttered in a shaken timbre. "You'd be much better company than that barbaric boy."
Airi erupted into giggles at Suzune's jibing, sending an affectionate smile toward the so-called barbaric boy. He noticed her attention and returned a white smile, signifying his happiness that she'd made friends with Suzune.
The ecstatic girl flushed and turned back to her newest friend. Recalling a memory, she replicated Kiyotaka's earlier introduction and extended her hand toward Suzune with a pleasant visage. "…Thank you for accepting m-my offer of… friendship, Horikita-san."
Suzune rose a cautious brow at the presented appendage before relaxing her features. She joined their hands. "Likewise, Sakura-san." She stole a curious glance toward Kiyotaka who had his arms crossed and overwatched their interaction with a serious expression, drawing her surprise. What was he thinking? Their gazes connected and she was struck bewildered when he sent her an appreciative nod of approval.
He planted a hand on her table and leaned closer to her face with a cocky smirk. "One day I'll get you to admit the same for me." His heated whisper resulted in an inexplicable spark to jolt her thumbing heart, and the hairs on her skin to raise.
She responded with a distrustful glower. "That will never happen. I'd sooner stab you."
"We shall see, Zune-chan," he murmured and openly leered at her beautiful features, eliciting a flustered furrow of her brows at his boldness. She felt her heart lurch in her ribcage. Trapped by the glimpse of the abyss residing in his amber eyes. Each breath she took accelerated and her hands became clammy all of a sudden. Feeling his eyes prowl on her nose, lips and neck made her blood hot. She despised how she felt naked under his stare.
In the next abrupt second, he was gone, the moment lost in a flash.
He rose from his position and spoke up casually as can be. "I think one of our classmates is about to make a speech, girls."
Sakura perked up, her blue eyes swimming around the class curiously. "Who is, Ayanokoji-kun? I can't see them."
Casual to such a degree that Suzune almost doubted if the palpitating scene between them even happened. She blinked and clenched her fists under the table, why was she so nervous? She felt like she'd just seen the eye of a tiger and escaped by the skin of her teeth. It was maddening. It did not make sense. She glanced around and realised no one noticed but her, she cautiously looked at the cause of her anxiety and saw he was pointing out someone to Sakura and her.
"Look." He aimed his index finger at the front, left side of the classroom. "On the left side at the front of the class." Both girls followed his direction and saw a boy rise from his seat with a friendly smile. "Let's see what he has to say." Disrupted by his movement, Suzune and Airi watched Kiyotaka return to his seat, curiosity alight on his face. He became aware of their confused stares. They did not expect anyone to make a speech. He motioned them to pay attention and it transferred over when they finally heard the boy clap his hands twice.
"Everyone, may I have a moment?" the friendly boy announced loudly to the prattling classroom. The chatter began to dwindle when all eyes focused on the boy upfront.
Please Review
After watching season 2 of Classroom of the Elite, I was inspired to write this fanfiction. Even though I have a My Teen Romantic Comedy story to focus on, the temptation to write this was too strong. I don't know why I punish myself by writing stories with characters much smarter than myself. I knew I was being awfully ambitious in writing a genius character like Kiyotaka. Nevertheless, please express your thoughts. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Remember, it's just for fun.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka
Age: 16
Height: 178cm/ 5'10"
Wingspan: 183cm/ 6'0"
Weight: 82kg/ 181lbs
Student Evaluation
Academic Ability: C
Intellect: B
Judgement Ability: B+
Physical Ability: A+
Cooperativeness: D