A Liquid Inspiration
Summary: (A re-telling of Classroom of the Elite sparked by a certain conversation between Masterpiece and Professor.)
One day, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka receives a surprising invitation from his father, Ayanokouji Atsuomi, to join him for a drink. It was unusual for Kiyotaka, who normally wouldn't be summoned by his father without a hidden agenda.
That's why even the emotionless Kiyotaka was surprised when his father began to open up about his own experiences with love and relationships.
For the emotionally distant "masterpiece," this conversation is a rare moment of connection with his father, and it sparked a curiosity within him to explore the world of human relationships, to be more specific: romance and intimacy.
It was that spark that pushed Kiyotaka to demand something from his father:
"Father, teach me everything about human relationships."
This then begins a ripple that changes how Ayanokouji Kiyotaka would approach the world in the foreseeable future.
Do check out this fic on Wattpad. It has the same title and content, but we do have illustrations there to increase immersion for the fic. Thanks, and here's the chapter!
Vol. 1 Chapter 16 - Midterm Preparations
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
During the start of homeroom, I received a text from Kiriyama-senpai confirming that we had successfully expelled the four second-year targets. He had also told me that he had managed to cash in a favor, and we now had secured a decoy who would take the hit for the attack on Nagumo-senpai.
[8:36:10 Kiriyama Ikuto] Nakamura, Narita, Naito, and Kobashi had been expelled. I've also done my part too.
[8:36:30Kiriyama Ikuto] By the way, I've cashed in a favor on another student who disliked Nagumo. Let me know what you want him to do.
He's surprisingly reliable, isn't he?
But I suppose that was to be expected.
Although Fūka wasn't wrong in thinking that Kiriyama Ikuto was, as she said, a 'neutered dog,' that was simply a byproduct of circumstance. From what I had gathered, Kiriyama Ikuto operated the same way as Horikita-senpai, to a lesser degree, as he was a leader who acted honorably and within the rules, never resorting to playing dirty.
However, the similarities ended there. Unlike Horikita-senpai, who managed to get a couple of victories over Nagumo-senpai, including defeating him in the previous elections, Kiriyama-senpai suffered defeat after defeat to Nagumo-senpai, ultimately culminating in the demotion of the class.
Upon reflection, the demotion of his class was likely the catalyst that prompted Kiriyama Ikuto to reevaluate his approach, realizing he would never triumph over Nagumo-senpai if he continued down the same path. However, given Nagumo-senpai's strength, opportunities for retaliation were scarce, leaving him waiting.
He probably believed his chance to strike back would never come... until I entered the scene.
Now that Kiriyama-senpai had been offered the chance to avenge himself, he would definitely make something of the carrot that was given to him.
Well... let's see if he can keep up his growth.
"You seem deep in thought again, Ayanokōji-kun."
I turned my head to my right after hearing Horikita's familiar voice.
"You sure do like looking at me, don't you, Horikita?"
The sunlight caught on her dark hair, casting a gentle shine. "T-That's just ridiculous," Horikita replied, glaring at me. "It's simply normal for me to notice my surroundings and the people in them."
That's gold coming from a girl who got angry when our eyes momentarily met a month ago, Horikita.
Don't think that I'd ever forget that.
"Is that so?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "But you do seem to always notice when I'm lost in thought."
Horikita scoffed and turned away from me, focusing her attention back on Chabashira-sensei, who was giving some reminders for the day.
I turned my attention back to my phone, replying to Kiriyama-senpai's message.
[8:37:38] Good work, Kiriyama-senpai. I'll let you handle things in the meantime. I trust you'll be able to discern the best moves to take. Just keep me updated.
As Chabashira-sensei continued her announcements, I couldn't help but wonder how Nagumo-senpai took my challenge.
Judging from what I knew of the blonde-haired boy, he was probably infuriated at the thought of someone daring to challenge him while, at the same time, relishing the thought of finally getting to battle someone after he had essentially subjugated his batch.
Well, he'd probably be preoccupied thinking who might be his attacker, and with how I had hidden my trace, it'll take him some time before he realized that I was behind the attacks.
I continued to listen to Chabashira-sensei, but my mind was already racing with the next steps I needed to take. I needed to prepare for Nagumo-senpai's retaliation, and I needed to do it quickly.
But for now, I had to focus on playing the role of a regular student. I couldn't let anyone suspect that I had anything to do with the recent expulsions.
"Horikita," I called out to my seatmate, who was still listening in to Chabashira-sensei. "Remember what we talked about yesterday?"
The dark-haired girl responded, though she didn't turn to face me. "You're talking about Chabashira-sensei's words, right?"
"Not that," I replied in amusement.
Horikita sure does have a one-track mind sometimes, doesn't she?
"I was actually referring to our deal about food, where you'd make me some homemade ice cream if I made your favorite food," I clarified. "I'd like to ask about what's your favorite food."
"By the way, my favorite flavor is chocolate," I added.
Horikita turned to face me with a raised eyebrow. "You're bringing up our deal now? During class? That's not really important now, is it?"
I smiled faintly at Horikita's reaction. Even if it didn't show on her face, I could tell that she was caught off-guard by the topic.
"On the contrary," I replied smoothly, "I think it's important to discuss these things before I forget them. And besides, I want to ensure I can deliver on my end of the deal. You need to know that I'm a better cook, you know?"
Horikita sighed. "Fine," she relented. "My favorite food is onigiri."
"Onigiri?" I repeated, surprised. "That's unexpected. I thought you'd like something more... sophisticated."
Horikita frowned, looking almost insulted. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, you always strike me as someone who would prefer something more refined, like sushi or steak."
"I enjoy those as well," Horikita said defensively. "But onigiri holds a special place in my heart. It reminds me of when I was younger and would go to the festivals with my brother."
"... You're such a bro-con, Horikita."
Horikita's eyes widened in surprise, and she blushed, her cheeks turning pink. "I-I am not a bro-con!" she protested.
"Didn't you enroll here so that you'd get to reunite with him?" I asked, looking at her in amusement. "You sure are adorable when you're being bashful, Horikita."
Horikita's face turned an even deeper shade of red as she glared at me. "I didn't enroll here solely for that reason," she protested.
"Right. You also enrolled to stand on equal footing with him," I said, nodding. "That's another reason that revolves around your older brother."
Horikita's scowl deepened. "You're just twisting my words to make it sound like I'm obsessed with my brother," she retorted.
"I'm not twisting anything," I replied, amused. "You're the one who brought him up when we were talking about your favorite food."
Horikita glared at me. "Well, it's not like I can help it if Onigiri reminds me of him," she muttered.
"Of course not," I agreed with a smile. "But don't worry, Horikita. I won't judge you for being a bro-con. In fact, I think it's kind of cute."
"... You're annoying."
"You're just saying that because you're embarrassed," I teased. "But don't worry, your secret is safe with me. I won't tell anyone that you're a bro-con."
Horikita's face turned bright red as she glared at me. "Again, I am not a bro-con," she hissed through gritted teeth.
She really was adorable whenever she got cornered, wasn't she?
Well... time to take a page out of Haruka's book.
"Whatever you say, Horikita," I replied, extending a hand to pat her on the head.
Horikita's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected gesture, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of pink. As my hand made contact with the top of her head, she tensed up for a split second before relaxing into the sensation of my touch.
"Y-You can't just do that, Ayanokōji-kun!" she protested weakly, though her voice lacked conviction. I could tell that she was enjoying it more than she was letting on.
I smiled at Horikita before taking my hand off her head. "Relax, Horikita. It's just a head pat."
"Just make sure no one else sees you doing that," she muttered, looking visibly flustered. "It's embarrassing."
"So you're admitting you don't actually mind getting head pats?" I asked, amused. "Adorable."
Horikita huffed in annoyance and turned away from me, clearly trying to hide her embarrassment.
It seemed like I discovered another thing about Horikita Suzune...
She enjoys head pats.
Now, if only she could be honest about it.
16.1
"Kiyotaka, you owe me 100 head pats."
"What are you, Yuki? A cat?"
After morning classes had ended, Yuki and I decided to split from our usual group and have lunch together. Well... more of Yuki demanded that I had lunch with her as a reward for her work yesterday.
Not that I minded, of course.
"Of course not! But I saw you give Horikita-san a head pat," Yuki pointed out. "And since I don't like her, you owe me a hundred head pats."
"How does that even make sense?" I asked, sighing.
"It just does, okay?" Yuki replied, pouting. "Don't question my logic, Kiyotaka. It's all your fault anyways."
I suppose it was my fault this time around.
Horikita didn't ask for a head pat— I simply felt like doing it.
But can anyone blame me?
"I suppose it is my fault," I replied. "But why 100? That's just too specific, Yuki."
Yuki shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "It's a fair number. Plus, I want to make sure you're fully punished for patting Horikita-san's head."
Giving you a head pat is not a punishment, Yuki.
Just be honest and admit you were jealous.
"I don't think giving head pats would actually be a punishment, Yuki," I said, amused. "And why would you be jealous of Horikita anyways?"
Yuki huffed and crossed her arms. "I'm not jealous!" she protested. "I just think it's unfair that she gets to receive head pats from you when I don't."
I arched an eyebrow at her words. "Didn't I give you like three head pats this morning?"
Yuki's face lit up at the memory. "Oh, you did! But those were just a warm-up. I need a hundred to make up for all the ones you've given to Horikita-san."
"Alright, alright. I'll give you a few head pats, but not a hundred. That's too much," I replied, idly noticing the happy face Yuki was making.
Yuki's eyes lit up at the prospect of receiving head pats. "Fine... I guess I can live with that. Thank you, Kiyotaka!" she exclaimed, grabbing my hand and placing it on her head.
I obliged her and gave her a few head pats, feeling her soft hair under my hand. Yuki closed her eyes and leaned into the touch, letting out a contented sigh.
Yuki really was like a cat sometimes... another similarity she has with Horikita.
I really think the two of them could be friends if one of them made an effort to do it.
Perhaps I could set it up?
After a few seconds, Yuki opened her eyes and looked up at me. "That was nice, Kiyotaka," she said, smiling. "But I still need more."
"You're greedy."
"You think?"
"I'm sure of it. And do you sound too proud about it, Yuki?"
Yuki just grinned at me and then latched onto my arm. "Because there's nothing really wrong with it. I just know what I want, and I'm not afraid to ask for it," she replied.
Her boldness never ceased to amaze me.
Yuki was the type of person who always went after what she wanted; consequences be damned.
It was both admirable and terrifying at the same time.
"Well, in that case, what else do you want?" I asked, playing along with her game.
I hope I hadn't doomed myself with my words.
They could be taken differently, after all.
Yuki's eyes sparkled with excitement, and she released my arm to stand in front of me. "Hmm, let's see... how about a piggyback ride?" she proposed, her enthusiasm evident as she bounced on her toes.
As Yuki excitedly jumped up and down, my gaze involuntarily lowered, momentarily captivated by the motion of her chest.
I shook my head and quickly averted my gaze.
I wonder what was up with this generation of Japanese girls.
At ANHS alone, there was an abundance of well-endowed girls, some even more so than Yuki, including the likes of Haruka, Airi, and Ichinose.
Of course... my interest was purely analytical, driven by my curiosity about this phenomenon... and not due to any untoward thoughts.
"A piggyback ride?" I repeated, surprised. "Yuki, you're not a kid anymore."
"I know that," she said, pouting at me. "But come on, Kiyotaka, it'll be fun! And it's not like you can't carry me. You're pretty strong, you know?"
I couldn't help but be amused at her enthusiasm.
Yuki was never one to shy away from trying new things or having fun...
To the point she goes overboard with it from time to time.
"Fine, I'll give you a piggyback ride," I relented, motioning for her to climb onto my back.
Yuki wasted no time and jumped onto my back, wrapping her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Ready!" Yuki replied with a huge grin on her face.
I started walking forward, feeling the weight of Yuki on my back but not finding it particularly challenging to carry her. She giggled and squealed with delight, the wind blowing her hair back as we walked.
As we made our way to the cafeteria, I couldn't help but notice the looks we were getting from our fellow students. Some were amused, while others looked surprised or envious.
Not that I blame them.
As we arrived at the cafeteria, I carefully set Yuki down on her feet, making sure she had her balance before releasing her. She stumbled slightly before catching herself, her face flushed from the excitement of the piggyback ride.
"I'm still amazed at how easily you were able to dispel my jealousy, Kiyotaka," Yuki admitted, a broad grin spreading across her face. "In fact, you did it so effortlessly that I almost forgot I was upset with you for giving Horikita-san a head pat. Can you believe it?"
And now she admitted it...
You're weird, Yuki.
"Didn't you say earlier that you weren't jealous?" I replied dryly.
Yuki waved her hand dismissively. "Details, details," she said with a smirk. "Besides, I got what I wanted, didn't I?"
"Right, because that's all that matters," I replied sarcastically.
"As your future wife... that's just common sense, Kiyotaka," she replied, grinning.
"I don't recall agreeing to that, Yuki," I said, amusement lacing my tone. "And even if I did, you still have a long way to go before you become my wife."
Yuki's face fell, and she pouted at me. "You're so mean, Kiyotaka," she muttered. "But I won't give up that easily. You'll see! I'll make you fall for me eventually."
Yuki really was something else.
"Good luck with that, Yuki," I said, patting her on the head. "But for now, let's focus on getting some food. I'm starving."
Yuki's face brightened up again, and she nodded eagerly. "Yeah, let's go get some food!"
We walked into the cafeteria, and I couldn't help but notice the variety of options available. There were rows of dishes, ranging from traditional Japanese food to more Western-style cuisine. I looked over at Yuki, who seemed to be having a hard time deciding what to eat.
"You know, Yuki, if you're having trouble deciding, I can always pick for you," I offered.
"For someone claiming he's not in love with me, you sure are succeeding in making me feel loved," Yuki replied, giggling. "But yes, please! Make sure it's tasty, okay?"
"Whatever you say. Well anyway, I'll make sure to pick something delicious," I promised.
As we walked through the rows of dishes, my eyes scanned over each option, trying to find the perfect dish for Yuki. I finally settled on a plate of steaming pork katsu with a side of miso soup.
"Here you go," I said, placing the plate in front of her. "Pork katsu with miso soup. I've tasted it before, and I thought it was delicious, so I think you'll like it."
Yuki's eyes widened at the sight of the food, and she eagerly dug in. As she took her first bite, her face lit up in delight.
"Mm, this is amazing, Kiyotaka!" she exclaimed between bites. "You have excellent taste."
"Well, I do have a refined palate," I replied, feeling a bit smug. "Glad you like it."
Yuki rolled her eyes at my comment but continued to eat her food with gusto.
"Oh, look who it is! It's my favorite kouhai and his girlfriend. How are you, Ayanokōji, Yuki?"
Yuki and I turned around and were met with the smirking face of Nagumo-senpai. The blonde-haired boy was accompanied by a cute chocolate-brown-haired girl.
"What was her name again?" I mused in my mind. "Ah, Asahina Nazuna."
I greeted Nagumo-senpai with a nod. "We're doing fine, Nagumo-senpai. And before you get any ideas, she's not my girlfriend."
Nagumo-senpai's smirk widened. "Is that so? Well, you wouldn't mind if I attempted to woo her, would you, Ayanokōji? Yuki's rather beautiful, after all."
The blonde-haired boy then directed his eyes to Yuki, examining her features.
Yuki, to her credit, simply giggled. "You sure do live up to your reputation, senpai," she replied.
"My reputation?" Nagumo-senpai asked, amused. "What do you mean by that, Yuki?"
"Being a charmer," Yuki replied. "But unfortunately for you, I'm not interested."
Nagumo-senpai turned his head to me. "You sure are becoming just like Horikita-senpai, Ayanokōji," he said, chuckling. "A devoted girl already. Yuki here is like your own version of Tachibana-senpai, don't you think?"
"Maybe if Tachibana-senpai was 5 inches taller," I replied. "Yuki's quite tall, you know?"
While my comment caught the two girls with us off-guard, Nagumo-senpai cackled.
At least he appreciates a good joke.
"That's right. The only girl taller than her that I've seen in this school is Fūka," Nagumo-senpai replied, nodding. "Do you know her, Ayanokōji? Kiryūin Fūka?"
So that was his purpose for confronting us.
Nagumo Miyabi was trying to see if I was involved in expelling the four second-year students, and his indirect way of doing so was by asking if I knew one of the few second-year students that didn't submit to his rule.
I have to say that I'm impressed by his social skills. His approach was pretty subtle, after all.
One that was masked by utilizing his reputation as a womanizer.
"Aside from you and Asahina-senpai, I haven't come into contact with any second years yet, senpai," I replied, taking a bite out of my meal. "Are you planning on bedding her?"
"Kiyotaka!" Yuki scolded me, her face turning red. "That's not an appropriate question to ask!"
Nagumo-senpai simply laughed. "Always a straight shooter, aren't you, Ayanokōji? But no, I have no intentions of 'bedding' Fūka... she's rather abrasive. I was simply curious if you knew her."
"I see. Well, unfortunately, I can't say that I do," I replied.
Nagumo-senpai shrugged. "Well, if you do meet her, I'll have to warn you about that woman's eccentricities. But anyway, I won't keep you two. I'll see you later in the council meeting, Ayanokōji, Yuki," he said, giving us a small wave before walking away with Asahina-senpai by his side.
Eccentricities... would be putting it lightly, senpai.
As the two of them walked away, Yuki turned to me, a serious look on her face. "Is he already onto us? I could tell he wasn't here just to flirt with me."
"He's not," I replied, taking another bite out of the cutlet. "But with me being the Second Vice President, he reasonably believes that there might be a chance that I was behind the expulsion of his minions."
"Quite the intuition. Nagumo-senpai really is capable, isn't he?" Yuki rhetorically asked, taking a sip out of the miso soup.
I couldn't help but nod in agreement with Yuki's statement. Nagumo-senpai was indeed capable, and I had to admit, it was a bit of a thrill to have someone like him on my tail.
"It'd be disappointing if he weren't, Yuki," I replied, scanning the cafeteria to see if there were people listening in.
Seeing none, I continued. "But as good as his intuition was, it'll take him long before he discovers the truth... and I'll be looking forward to it."
Despite my superior abilities, I believe that I would still be able to learn a lot of things from battling Nagumo Miyabi.
A worthy opponent like him was a rare find in this school, after all.
Yuki giggled. "You're so evil sometimes. I wonder how he'd feel once he realizes he never stood a chance against you."
I shrugged. "I doubt he'd care much. Nagumo-senpai seems like the type to quickly move on from failure. If anything, he'd salivate at the chance to finally match up with a capable opponent."
"Lonely at the top, huh?" Yuki mused.
I nodded. "Something like that."
Silence descended upon us as we continued to eat our lunch, lost in our own thoughts.
16.2
After the end-of-class bell rang, I gave Ken, Airi, Haruka, and Akito some instructions since I wouldn't be able to tutor them today due to my meeting with the Student Council.
Unsurprisingly, Haruka volunteered to lead the session in my stead, and since no one else protested, the blue-haired girl got her wish.
I did give Airi and Akito permission to do something if Haruka decides to tap on her more mischievous side.
Better safe than sorry, right?
Once that was done, I left the classroom with Yuki and headed to the Class C homeroom to fetch Ichinose.
"It still surprises me that Haruka-chan could be so enthusiastic. She's such a big loner, you know?" Yuki pointed out.
"Even I was surprised," I replied, idly observing the students walking past us. "But you really weren't kidding about Haruka's thing with nicknames."
"What does she call you? Kiyo... Kiyopon?" Yuki giggled. "You must have died inside when you heard that."
"I did. At least it wasn't..."
"It wasn't what?"
"Nothing."
"What?! Tell me, Kiyotaka!"
"...Kiyo-chan."
Yuki let out a loud laugh. "Ki... Kiyo-chan? That's adorable! I didn't think Haruka had it in her."
"Please don't say that abomination of a word again," I replied, sighing. "I'll take Kiyopon over that one."
Yuki simply grinned at me. "Too late, Kiyotaka. I think calling you Kiyo-chan is cute as heck!"
"I'll seriously cut off our relationship if you call me that," I replied. "I'm not joking. Just don't."
Yuki held up her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I won't call you Kiyo-chan," she said, still grinning. "But I must admit, it's kind of funny seeing you get all flustered over a nickname."
"It's bad enough that I found out my name came from my mother's favorite client," I replied, sighing. "Kiyo-chan is just overkill."
Yuki laughed again. "Well, at least your name has some meaning behind it. My parents just named me after a flower because they thought it was pretty."
A rather twisted meaning that is.
"A flower?" I asked, a little surprised at the information. "I thought they named you after snow. Yuki does mean snow, after all."
"Well, that's what Mama told me. Yuki Cherry Blossom," Yuki replied with a shrug. "But who knows, maybe they just liked the sound of it. It's not like it really matters, right?"
As we reached the Class C homeroom, I saw Ichinose waiting for us by the door. She looked up and smiled when she saw us approaching.
The pink-haired girl waved at us. "Ayanokōji-kun, Yuki-chan!"
"Honaaaaami-chaaaan!" Yuki ran up to Ichinose and caught her in a tight hug.
"Y-Yuki-chan!" Ichinose exclaimed in surprise but didn't hesitate to return Yuki's hug.
While the girls were having their fun, I spotted Ryūji gathering his belongings inside the Class C homeroom.
Without hesitation, I strode into the classroom and called out to him. "Ryūji."
"Oh, Kiyotaka," The violet-haired boy said, nodding his head at me.
"We still haven't exchanged contact information, have we?"
Ryūji shook his head. "Yeah. We haven't really seen each other since you and Tsubaki took Ichinose away."
"To think you'd immediately be appointed Vice President," Ryūji smiled. "You sure are something, Kiyotaka."
I shook my head in amusement. "Not even treating me as an enemy? We're in different classes, Ryūji."
"There is no use in becoming your enemy, Kiyotaka," Ryūji said, sighing. "I'd only be setting our class up for failure."
"Have some faith in your abilities, Ryūji," I replied, fixing my gaze on the violet-haired boy. "You're better than you think."
Ryūji smirked. "You're getting too cocky, Kiyotaka. Building me up as an enemy that you'd eventually duel?"
"Enemy?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "We'll never be enemies. Friends still compete, don't they?"
"I suppose you're right," he conceded. "But I think I've taken enough of your time. Let's exchange contact information now. That's why you approached me, right?"
"That, and catch up with one of my friends."
Ryūji chuckled. "Of course. Well, here's my number," he said, handing me his phone. "What's yours?"
I quickly entered my contact information into his phone and returned it to him. "Got it," he said, looking at the screen. "We should grab lunch together sometime and catch up properly."
"Sure, that sounds good," I replied, nodding my head. "Let's make plans soon."
Ryūji nodded back before walking away, and I turned to join Yuki and Ichinose, who were still chatting animatedly by the classroom door.
As I approached the girls, they stopped conversing and looked at me expectantly. "Shall we head to the Student Council room now?" I asked.
Ichinose nodded eagerly. "Yes, let's go!"
"Yep! Let's go, Kiyotaka, Honami-chan," Yuki agreed before positioning herself in between Ichinose and me, then linking both of her arms with us.
We walked through the hallways towards the Student Council room, with Yuki chattering away about her plans after the midterm examinations. Apparently, Yuki and Ichinose had been planning to hang out but were too busy due to the upcoming exams.
A few moments later, Ichinose called out to me, her voice gentle and warm.
"It seems like you don't need my help anymore, Ayanokōji-kun," she said, smiling radiantly.
"Hmm... I guess so," I replied non-committally. "But you did tell him about what I told you, right?"
"Mhm-mm!" Ichinose responded, nodding enthusiastically. "Kanzaki-kun was quite amused when he heard that."
"Probably because I used you as a glorified messenger. Sorry, Ichinose."
Ichinose giggled softly. "Don't worry, Ayanokōji-kun. I didn't mind it at all."
"What are you guys talking about?" Yuki interjected, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"I ran into Ichinose yesterday and asked her if she could relay a message to Ryūji about wanting to hang out with him when we're free," I explained.
That... and then I teased her about visiting my room, but Yuki didn't need to know that.
"Oh yeah, it's been a while since you last hung out with Kanzaki-kun, right?"
"Yep. Last February."
"You know, Ayanokōji-kun," Ichinose said, her smile never fading. "You're free to come by our homeroom if you'd like. You could talk with Kanzaki-kun whenever you want!"
Ichinose Honami truly was a good person.
Despite the structure of this school and how it functioned, she still remained true to her persona, that of a genuinely kind-hearted and benevolent girl.
I'm a little jealous of it, to be honest.
Soon, we arrived at the Student Council room, and I knocked on the door before gently pushing it open.
Inside, I saw Horikita-senpai and Tachibana-senpai conversing with each other. It seemed to be a lighthearted topic since Tachibana-senpai was smiling... or perhaps Horikita-senpai finally decided to flirt with her?
Unlikely.
"I apologize for not waiting for you to open the door, Tachibana-senpai. I thought we were running late," I said, catching the attention of the two.
Tachibana-senpai smiled warmly at me. "No need to apologize, Ayanokōji-kun. We just started chatting a bit."
Horikita-senpai nodded in agreement, his serious gaze softening momentarily. "Good afternoon, Ayanokōji, Tsubaki, Ichinose. It's nice to see that the three of you are getting along well."
"Good afternoon, Horikita-senpai," we replied in unison, our voices harmonizing in the spacious room.
Horikita-senpai then motioned for us to follow him inside the conference room, where we all took our seats at the large, polished round table that dominated the space.
"Nagumo-senpai still hasn't arrived?" I inquired, glancing at the lone unoccupied seat in the room, its cushioned surface untouched. "I thought he'd be here early."
"Nagumo arrived earlier but excused himself about ten minutes ago," Horikita-senpai replied before taking his seat at the head of the table, his posture perfect. "Something about the four expulsions of his batchmates. Have you heard about it, Ayanokōji?"
"First time I've heard about it," I replied, leaning back in the chair, the leather upholstery creaking softly. "So someone decided to challenge Nagumo-senpai, huh?"
Horikita-senpai nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It seems so. But Nagumo said he'd be back before 3:25, so let's wait for him. We won't be starting until 3:30, anyway."
As we waited for Nagumo-senpai to return, the room fell into a comfortable silence, broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioner. I used the time to ponder what I wanted to cook for dinner, as well as onigiri variants I could try making.
Perhaps I'd ask Okitani how Horikita had been treating them so I could decide if she deserved a special onigiri.
Horikita-senpai, on the other hand, seemed to be mentally preparing himself for the upcoming meeting, his eyes closed as he took deep, calming breaths.
Meanwhile, Ichinose and Tachibana-senpai were chatting softly, their laughter like tinkling bells as they occasionally giggled at something one of them said.
Yuki, on the other hand, appeared to be lost in thought, her chin resting on her hand as she gazed dreamily out the window, watching the leaves of a nearby tree dance in the breeze.
At precisely 3:24 PM, Nagumo-senpai entered the room, his confident stride announcing his arrival. He then took his seat next to me, the chair swiveling smoothly.
"Apologies for the wait, everyone," he said, flashing a charming smile at the assembled group. "I had to take care of something important."
Horikita-senpai nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes meeting Nagumo's. "It's alright, Nagumo. We were just waiting for you to start the meeting."
"Thank you, Horikita-senpai," Nagumo-senpai replied, inclining his head respectfully towards the bespectacled boy.
The blonde-haired boy then turned his head in my direction, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Who do you think is prettier? Yuki or Honami?" He whispered, nudging me playfully on the side.
"You ask the weirdest questions, senpai," I replied, shaking my head.
Nagumo-senpai chuckled. "We're boys. That's a normal question to ask. Personally, I'd prefer Honami."
"Well, it's not like you could go wrong with either of them," I replied, twirling the pen that was in my hand.
"True, true," Nagumo-senpai replied before taking out his phone, the screen illuminating his face, probably chatting with his peers.
As the meeting began, I focused on taking notes and listening to the discussions. It was a relatively routine meeting, with the main topic being some progress reports pertaining to finances, logistics, and upcoming events. Horikita-senpai, as usual, was leading the meeting with his precise and analytical demeanor.
Ichinose and Tachibana-senpai contributed their own thoughts and ideas, while Yuki was mostly quiet and observing. Nagumo-senpai occasionally chimed in with his own suggestions or opinions but mostly seemed preoccupied with his phone.
I, on the other hand, was mostly silent and observing, only speaking up when I had something to add or clarify.
Towards the end of the meeting, Horikita-senpai brought up the topic of the council hanging out to celebrate the freshmen council member's— Ichinose, Yuki, and myself—first test in school.
But I guess there's a first time for everything.
"I think it's a great idea," Ichinose said, smiling. "It would be fun to celebrate together!"
"Right, Honami-chan?" Yuki agreed. "I must say, I'm surprised you even suggested something like this, Horikita-senpai."
Nagumo-senpai chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "A late springtime of youth epiphany, Horikita-senpai?"
"Nothing of the sort," Horikita-senpai replied in his usual cool voice, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "But Tachibana had brought up a great point earlier that it could serve as a way to team build. We have plenty of challenges to face this year, after all."
"That's your idea, Tachibana-senpai? Teambuilding?" I asked the purple-haired girl, my eyebrows raised in amusement. "If you wanted to spend more time with Horikita-senpai, you could have just asked him for a date."
"Wh-What are you talking about, Ayanokōji-kun?" Tachibana-senpai stammered, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink, strikingly contrasting her purple hair.
I shrugged nonchalantly, a faint smile on my lips. "Just an observation. You two seem to be getting along quite well."
Horikita-senpai cleared his throat. "While it's true that Tachibana and I have been working together more frequently, it's purely for the sake of the Student Council."
You're so dense, Horikita-senpai.
I'm disappointed.
Nagumo-senpai chuckled. "Is that so? How cruel of you, Horikita-senpai."
Horikita-senpai raised an eyebrow. "I fail to see how that's cruel, Nagumo. That being said, is everyone in agreement with this proposal?"
We all nodded in agreement, and Horikita-senpai made a note to finalize the plans for the celebration.
"With that out of the way, let's move on to the next topic."
The rest of the meeting proceeded without any further incident, and we finally wrapped up around 5 PM.
As we were leaving the Student Council room, I noticed Tachibana-senpai quietly asking Horikita-senpai if he wanted to grab dinner with her.
He declined politely, citing the need to study.
I couldn't help but feel a bit amused at Horikita-senpai's denseness to Tachibana-senpai's feelings.
He really struggles with understanding women, doesn't he?
First, his little sister, and then with Tachibana-senpai.
It was almost comical, considering how he was usually so perceptive about everything else.
16.3
Today was Monday— three days after the official expulsion of the four second-year students and my brief exchanges with Horikita-senpai and the rest of the Student Council.
Nothing much happened over the weekends besides exchanging calls with Kiriyama-senpai and hanging out with Yuki and Chiaki.
Ah, Ryūji did visit yesterday, but the guy was probably a bigger advocate of solace than me, so he only spent about thirty minutes inside my dorm before leaving.
When you look at the guy, you really wouldn't think that he's the heir of a multi-billion yen company.
That being said, I was actually glad that this part of me still hadn't changed— my preference for enjoying things at my own pace.
With my social status in this school, you'd expect me to be more outgoing and constantly hanging out with different friend groups, but that's just not something I'd do.
I prefer to keep a small circle of friends and spend my free time reading, cooking, or exploring things I am curious about. It wasn't that I didn't appreciate the privileges that come with my popularity, but it could be tiring to keep up with everyone's expectations.
Kushida could definitely learn a thing or two from me.
"Ayanokōji-kun," Horikita called out, her gradient red eyes fixed on me. "Have you found a lead on what you told me last week?"
"About what Chabashira-sensei said, right?"
"Indeed. I've been trying to think about the deeper meaning of her words, but I'm still drawing blanks."
"I've formulated a couple of ideas about it. But I'm certain I figured it out."
"Really? Do you mind telling me?"
"I'll do you one better," I replied, leaning on my chair. "Accompany me for lunch later, and you'll see what that message was all about."
"See? Couldn't you just tell me?" Horikita asked, raising an eyebrow. "At least tell me a gist of what's in your mind so I can decide whether or not I'll go with you."
"I can say for certain that there's a way for you guys to get through this without anyone failing," I repeated Chabashira-sensei's words. "A rather strange phrasing, which you've already noticed."
"Indeed. Now, how are those words related to the test topics being changed?"
"I think... no, I'm certain that Chabashira-sensei was aware that the test topics were going to be changed about a week and a half into the test preparations, but she still said something like that."
"Why are you certain that she was aware of it?"
"Do you think Chabashira-sensei would carelessly say something like 'there's a way for everyone to pass'? She's like an older version of you, you know?"
Horikita glared at me, which really tempted me to pat her head.
However, I ignored the urge since it was inappropriate at the moment.
"Your unwelcome comparison aside, I do see your point."
"And so, with the test topics being changed, it should be worrying news for academically inept students like Yamauchi or Ike, right?"
Horikita nodded but said nothing in response. Instead, the dark-haired girl silently urged me to continue.
"Out of everyone else, Chabashira-sensei is the person who knows our academic capacities the most, and yet she remained certain in her words that everyone could pass. That only meant one thing: there was a surefire way for us to save everyone."
"And I assume you've figured out that method?"
I nodded my head. "So, would you like to accompany me later for lunch?"
"I suppose I could. If what you said held merit, we could potentially ensure everyone's safety in one move."
"That's a good girl, Horikita."
"Y-You!"
I ignored Horikita's glare and thought about what we'd do later.
The plan was simple: to secure old test papers from an upperclassman.
The reason why this was the course of action I decided to take was because of the mock test we took at the end of April. As I speculated last week, the last three questions in the mock test weren't mistakes by the school but clues hidden in the open.
Those questions were intended to lead us to the idea of investigating and looking underneath the underneath, and my own investigations had led me to the conclusion that the mock test we took... was the same, or at the very least, nearly identical to what the higher years had taken when they were first years.
And this... was the primary key to solving the puzzle behind Chabashira-sensei's cryptic words.
16.4
When lunchtime came, I jumped to my feet and, alongside Horikita, exited the classroom, intending to head to the cafeteria...
At least, that was supposed to be the case... as Yuki caught up with us.
"Hey, why are you going to the cafeteria with Horikita-san? What's going on?" She asked, her violet eyes gleaming with thinly-veiled jealousy.
Since there was no use in being cryptic about it, I told Yuki about the conversation Horikita and I had had earlier, and to no surprise, the blonde-haired girl asked—more like demanded—to tag along.
With that, what was supposed to be a party of two... turned into a party of three.
To my surprise, Horikita still opted to accompany us. Given her usual demeanor, I half-expected her to make an excuse to leave, saying something like, "I'll be going. You don't need me now that Tsubaki-san is here, right?"
She really was growing up.
As we continued towards the cafeteria, the air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of freshly cooked food, and the noise level increased as we approached the bustling lunchtime crowd. Students mingled, laughing and chatting as they enjoyed their break from classes.
We entered the brightly lit cafeteria, the hum of conversation and the clatter of trays and utensils creating a lively atmosphere.
Weaving our way through the crowd, we finally reached the meal ticket machine. I purchased tickets for two portions but didn't join the queue at the counter. Instead, I positioned myself to the side of the vending machine, discreetly observing the students looking at the menu.
"You look like a stalker, Ayanokōji-kun... staring at those students with that look in your eyes," Horikita suddenly said, catching me off guard.
Yuki laughed. "I've got to give it to you, Horikita-san. You can be funny when you want to."
"I'm not trying to be funny, Tsubaki-san," Horikita replied, glancing at the amused blonde-haired girl. "I'm simply noting how Ayanokōji-kun was intently staring at the students looking at the menu. It's stalker behavior."
Is that what you think of me, Horikita?
You're cruel.
I shook my head, pushing away the thought.
"Well, it's not like I'm staring at them for no reason," I defended myself. "Remember what I told everyone on the second day of class? About the free lunch sets?"
Yuki giggled. "So that's your game, huh? Preying on senpais with no money."
"It's not like they don't have anything to gain from what I'm going to ask," I replied, shrugging. "It's a win-win scenario."
"I don't understand," Horikita said, her gradient red eyes looking at me. "What exactly are you planning, Ayanokōji-kun?"
"You'll see."
Horikita sighed. "Always with the vagueness, aren't you?"
"Don't sweat it, Horikita-san. Kiyotaka simply likes sounding mysterious," Yuki replied, giggling.
"What am I to you, Yuki? A chuuni?" I asked dryly.
Yuki giggled. "Not at all! But if that's what you think..."
With that, I did not hesitate to raise my hand and flicked Yuki on the forehead.
I'm not a chuuni.
After observing about twenty students, I finally saw my target. He purchased his meal ticket and walked to the counter with heavy, plodding footsteps.
"Alright. Let's go," I said.
"That's the guy?" Yuki asked.
I nodded my head before walking in the direction of the student, Horikita and Yuki walking close behind me.
Without warning, I sat beside the unsuspecting upperclassman, with Horikita and Yuki sitting across from us.
"Good afternoon. You're an upperclassman, right?"
"Wha-What the?" The upperclassman flinched in surprise. "You're... the Second Vice President, Ayanokōji, right? What do you need from me?"
It seems like I'm popular, huh?
I honestly didn't think that students from the higher years would be aware of me.
"Before anything else, are you a second-year or a third-year?"
The upperclassman, a boy with short dark hair, finally regained his composure. Upon recognizing me, he had probably already realized why we approached him.
"Third-year," he replied. "I don't mean to be rude, but what do you want?"
To make the act more convincing, I glanced down at his meal before looking at him once again. "Hmm... are you in Class D, senpai?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" He countered, glaring at me.
Yuki simply looked at me in amusement, while Horikita looked confused, although she did manage to figure it out, probably by piecing together what I had said earlier.
"Ah, don't get me wrong, senpai. I'm not here to antagonize you," I replied, smiling at him. "In fact, I'm here to offer you a deal you'll find attractive."
"I see," he replied, probably having assumed what the deal was about already. "How much are we talking about?"
So I was right in my assumption that deals like these are commonplace in this school since he didn't seem particularly surprised when I told him I was here to offer him a deal. Since he's a third-year, I'd assume this wasn't the first time that he had been approached for a deal like this.
And with his words, it would seem like he was hoping he could negotiate for a higher price than he normally did. Probably assuming that a Student Council member like me could afford to throw him a bone.
Honestly, I couldn't care less about his attempt to swindle more money from me.
But that did bring me to revisit a realization that I had already known...
This school truly was cruel to those who were unprepared for its harsh realities.
"10,000 points," I replied, focusing my gaze on him.
"Te-ten thousand?" He said, surprised. "That's too low. I won't accept anything below 30,000 points. It's not like you don't have that much on you."
"That's true," I conceded, my eyes never leaving his. "However, I'm not exactly desperate for those documents. We're in Class B, and I simply thought of this strategy not out of desperation to stop an expulsion but to increase our scores. We can live without your help."
"But," I continued. "You need my help, don't you? If you get too ambitious, we can just approach another student. Think about it."
With that, I had implanted in his mind the idea that he wasn't the only option and that I could just easily approach another student who might be willing to accept the deal I was offering.
The upperclassman hesitated for a moment, weighing the options in his mind. He glanced at the meager meal on his tray, clearly considering whether it was worth risking the opportunity for the points I offered.
"Can you at least pay me 20,000 for it?"
"That's still too high for me, senpai. 12,000, take it or leave it."
The boy looked down, slouching, his eyes glancing at the meal on his tray.
It seemed like I had tormented him enough.
Now, for the clincher.
"But I suppose I could afford to be nicer to you, senpai," I said, placing my forearm on the table. "15,000 points. And since I'm paying you that much, can you toss in a little bonus? You remember the mock test that all students have to take at the end of the first month, right? I'd like to have that as well."
"Fine," he finally relented, though the reluctance was evident in his voice. "15,000 points. But I want the points upfront."
"It's a deal, then," I said, extending my hand. "I hope you won't try to rip me off, senpai. I won't hesitate to expel you if you do."
The upperclassman's eyes widened at my words, but he eventually shook my hand. "I won't. I promise. It'd be foolish to go against the Vice President. I know that much."
Although he pretended to be downcast at being put on the spot, I could tell he was happy with how the transaction went. For someone like him, 15,000 points was a lifeline that could last him for at least a month or, if he was conservative, for two months.
With the deal sealed, I transferred the 15,000 points to him and gave him my contact information.
"Thank you, senpai," I said, smiling at him. "I hope this helps you get back on your feet."
The upperclassman nodded, a mix of gratitude and defeat on his face. "Yeah, thanks."
With our transaction complete, the three of us got up to leave, leaving the upperclassman to his meal.
"That sure was something," Yuki said, chuckling.
"Well, since that was done, let's eat, shall we?"
Horikita remained silent, electing to just look at me.
"I've... made a bento, so I'll just wait for the two of you," Horikita said, showing us the content of the bag she was carrying.
"Oh, that's right! Kiyotaka did say that you cook," Yuki replied, observing the bento Horikita was carrying. "Hey, do you mind if I could get a couple of bites from that later? I'll give you some of what I'll buy later, just to be fair."
I arched an eyebrow at that.
Just like with Chiaki, it seemed like Yuki was trying to be more amiable towards Horikita upon seeing food.
Basically, she was trying to be nice to Horikita so that she could taste her cooking.
"You don't have to take her up on her offer if you're uncomfortable, Horikita," I chimed in, noting her silence.
Horikita hesitated for a moment, considering the proposition. She glanced at Yuki, then back at me, before finally nodding. "Alright, but only a few bites."
Yuki beamed. "Seems like you're not as bad as I thought! Let's go, Kiyotaka."
As Yuki headed to the meal ticket machine, I decided to stay behind, glancing at Horikita.
"Can you pick out a more inconspicuous spot for us to sit in? I assume you have questions you want to ask," I said to her.
Horikita nodded. "I can do that."
With that, Horikita walked away, looking for a spot for us to sit. I then followed Yuki to the meal ticket machine, fully intending to get my lunch.
16.5
A few moments later, Yuki and I had gotten our food. We then joined Horikita at the table she had chosen—a relatively secluded spot in the cafeteria where we could speak without being overheard.
As we sat down, Horikita opened her bento, revealing an artfully arranged selection of dishes. The sight and aroma of her homemade lunch made my stomach growl in anticipation.
Maybe I should have had her make me ice cream... a bento Horikita cooked sure did look like a much better deal.
But... I've already settled that deal with her, so I'll have to live with ice cream for now.
"Your bento looks amazing, Horikita-san," Yuki complimented, her gaze lingering on the colorful array of food.
"Thank you," she replied, a hint of pride in her voice. "Cooking is my favorite hobby, after all."
"Chiaki-chan is a great cook, too, you know?" Yuki replied, smiling. "I wonder who's the better cook between the two of you."
"Stop being roundabout, Yuki. Just ask her for a couple of bites already," I chimed in, shaking my head.
Yuki pouted. "No need to be so blunt, Kiyotaka. But yes, Horikita-san, may I try some of your bento now?"
Upon Horikita's nod, Yuki grinned, excitedly swapping a few bites of her food with some of Horikita's bento.
Looking at the sight before me, I let out a deep sigh as I realized an idea that I should have realized sooner.
If I wanted Horikita and Yuki to get along... I could just have Yuki sample some of Horikita's cooking.
Haah... don't worry, Kiyotaka.
All that mattered was that you finally figured it out.
The three of us then ate in relative silence, aside from Yuki gushing at the food that Horikita had made. It seemed like Horikita's cooking had passed Yuki's high-standard palate.
A few minutes later, Horikita broke the silence, aiming to finally know what she had been curious about.
"Since we're currently in a well-hidden spot, can you now explain what you had just done, Ayanokōji-kun?"
"Sure. Where would you like me to start?"
"About how you came up with the idea of buying the test from an upperclassman."
"The clue lies in the last three questions of the mock test. You also recalled that I asked for the mock test that senpai had received when he was a freshman, right?"
"You mean..." Horikita trailed off, her eyes widening in realization.
"As expected, you were able to figure it out," I praised.
Yuki then nudged me on the sides, as if wanting praise as well for discovering why I did what I did without me telling her anything.
"That goes to you as well, Yuki."
The blonde-haired girl giggled and then took a bite out of her meal.
...
She's such a child.
"But do tell me what's in your mind, Horikita."
The dark-haired girl nodded. "Since you said that the hint was in the last three questions of the mock test... you must have thought that our mock test and the one from two years ago were similar, and if they were... you're gambling at the possibility that the midterm exam two years ago would be the same as what we're going to take next week."
"But... you won't be satisfied if the two tests were just similar," Horikita continued. "You wanted them to be exactly the same, right?"
I nodded in agreement. "That's the plan. If the tests are indeed the same, we'll have a significant advantage over the other classes. Our classmates would be able to study the actual midterm exam beforehand, giving us a higher chance of getting top scores."
"But that's quite a gamble," Horikita pointed out. "What if the tests are different? You would have wasted 15,000 points for nothing."
I shrugged. "It's true that there's a risk involved. However, I have a strong feeling that the tests will be the same. And even if they're not, it's not like those 15,000 points would have been better spent elsewhere. As I told the upperclassman, we're not exactly desperate for the extra points. This is just an attempt to gain an advantage, not a last-ditch effort to save ourselves."
Yuki chimed in, "Besides, Kiyotaka's hunches are usually spot-on. I have a good feeling about this plan."
Horikita seemed to mull it over for a moment before nodding. "I suppose logic would lead us to conclude that you were probably right. But we won't know that until we get the file from the upperclassman."
"With how he reacted, the deal we did with him earlier is likely to be commonplace here," I replied, taking another bite out of my food. "But I do understand your caution."
"That being said, Ayanokōji-kun... what you did earlier... unnerved me," Horikita said, glancing down at her food. "You've essentially controlled him without actually trying."
"Don't worry too much about it, Horikita," I assured the dark-haired girl. "I'm not actually that ruthless. It was simply the right approach considering the situation. Besides, I do have an image to uphold as the Student Council Vice President."
"I suppose you're right."
Shortly thereafter, that third-year student from earlier sent me a message with an image file attached— it was the old test questions.
"And... it seems like we'll be getting our answers sooner than we thought," I said, looking at the message that had been sent to me.
"Oh, he sent it already?" Yuki asked, looking over my phone screen.
Since the only way to confirm my theory lay in the congruence of the mock test we took, that was the file that I opened first.
The key was whether or not the last three problems were the same.
A few moments later, I confirmed my suspicion.
"They're identical," I said.
Every single word from our test and the test that the senpai took were identical in every way.
"Here, see for yourselves," I set my phone horizontally on the middle of the table, allowing Horikita and Yuki to confirm it for themselves.
With a pinching motion, Horikita zoomed in on the picture, scanning the file. Yuki, on the other hand, simply ate her lunch, her mind already assured that my gamble was a success.
Her faith in me was touching.
"They're... exactly the same," Horikita muttered in astonishment. "This is just amazing."
"Yep," I nodded my head. "There is a chance, though, that the midterm exams would be slightly different, but they'll probably just re-order the questions and maybe alter some wordings. The fact that the mock tests were similar is already a hint that the same would be true for the midterms."
"When will you be distributing this to the class, Ayanokōji-kun?" Horikita asked. "If I may, I would suggest that you distribute it the day before the midterms."
I nodded my head. "That's the plan. We can't have our classmates be overconfident in gaining material like this, so we'll hold off until the last minute before giving the materials to them. We can't undo the effort of the study groups, after all."
Seeing the two girls nod, I continued. "But for now, I suppose we can use the test paper as the basis for the reviewer that we'll make for our study groups moving forward. Even if there's the possibility they won't be exactly the same, this would still give us a leg up over the other classes."
"What do you mean?" Yuki asked, turning her head in my direction.
"We'll be containing the fact that we've secured the old test papers among the tutors in our class. This is so that everyone would have an easier time reviewing the old papers when we finally distribute them on the day before the exams. You both understand where I'm going with this, right?"
Horikita nodded. "That's a rather ingenious way of ensuring that everyone does not get complacent with studying, Ayanokōji-kun. Subtly planting some of the test questions in our reviewers would increase their familiarity with the topic and the questions."
"Exactly," I replied, smiling at Horikita. "Since we can pretty much trust all the tutors to be able to keep things under wraps, I believe... no, I am certain that this would be an effective tactic."
"Ooh! That gives me an idea!" Yuki had a mischievous glint in her eye as she said this. "Why don't the three of us bet whose study group gets the most students with 100s across the board?"
I flicked Yuki on the forehead.
"You're an idiot," I chided her. "That bet is moot because you'd probably feed them the previous midterm questions earlier than planned just to win the bet."
Yuki clicked her tongue. "You always see right through me, Kiyotaka. You should have fun sometimes, you know?"
Ignoring Yuki for now, I turned my head to Horikita, whose determined eyes betrayed the impassive expression on her face.
"What do you think about this gamble, Horikita?"
"If you win this gamble... and the midterm exams actually end up similar to the previous years, then it might actually be possible that our class would score the highest in the midterms," Horikita said, smiling.
That... admittedly caught me off-guard.
Horikita Suzune had a very charming smile.
End of Chapter
A/N: I feel so alive now that I'm done with the Kushida arc of Volume 1. I guess you guys could tell from how this chapter was written.
Since I was able to compress this much in this chapter, I think we could close off Volume 1 by Chapter 17, followed by three SS (Horikita Suzune, Kiriyama Ikuto, Nagumo Miyabi) though there's a chance that I'd scrape either Kiriyama or Nagumo's SS.
While I'm not sure if the writing quality is back to its usual quality, I'm pretty happy with this chapter, and... that's really what matters, right?
What do you guys think of Nagumo, Yuki, and Suzune in this chapter?
And about Kushida... let's give her a break. The girl suffered a lot over the last 6 chapters.
That being said, see you in the next chapter!