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 0. Epilogue - A Temporary Goodbye

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka

"This brings back memories, doesn't it?"

Hearing my father's voice, I scanned the white room office and immediately saw a whiskey bottle and two half-filled glasses.

The exact catalyst of what started my temporary freedom over a year ago.

The best year of my life by far.

"Indeed, it has, father. Is the drink still non-alcoholic?" I inquired as the thought of his betrayal entered my mind again. To think I psychologically got myself tipsy because I thought I was drinking an actual alcoholic beverage.

Simply unforgivable.

My father chuckled at my question.

"I thought it was a funny rib, Kiyotaka. But I suppose you have now earned the right to drink something alcoholic. You've made incredible progress over the past 17 months, after all."

He then picked up one of the half-filled glasses and extended it to me.

"You're a deplorable man, father," I stated as I sat on the chair across from him.

"I know, but I regret nothing about the things I've done. Perhaps I could have been a more human father to you, but seeing how you've turned out? I believe I was right in how I handled your growth. I simply want you to transcend the limits bounded to us by human norms, and in a way, I have succeeded in that regard. That's why I am most proud in cultivating the perfect masterpiece," he pridefully said.

Just as expected. Even if he had become more lenient and amiable, his mentality remained the same. He still doesn't see me as a human being, but rather, he sees me as his life's greatest experiment.

It is dehumanizing and unfair.

More than ever, my conviction for what I intended to do had become firmer.

I will fulfill the dreams of Ayanokōji Atsuomi, but I will do it on my terms.

I will shape Japan in my image, not his.

"Isn't it arrogant for you to claim me as your personal property, father? After all, you have allowed me to discover my sense of individuality. Keeping me in line will prove to be more difficult now than it was a year ago," I replied.

He chuckled and then took a sip from his glass.

"I am not dumb, Kiyotaka. Perhaps it is you that have grown arrogant throughout your supposed freedom. After all... are you actually sure I haven't machinated everything that had happened around you? Maybe your new conditions for victory are simply my redirected vision. You'll never know."

This man...

"You must be turning soft then. What a caring father," I sarcastically replied.

"Interpret it however you want to interpret it, Kiyotaka. I have my motivation, and you have yours," he replied, his eyes focused on the half-empty glass of whiskey.

I nodded, knowing that arguing with him would lead to nothing. Instead, I took the glass he offered me and took a sip, feeling the burning sensation of the alcohol as it traveled down my throat.

I savored the taste, knowing that this was the first time I was truly drinking whiskey. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

As I sat there sipping my drink, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. My father's words had hit a nerve, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was still manipulating me in some way... but what was there for him to gain if I changed my approach?

I don't understand it.

"How are you handling the situation of the White Room at the present?" I asked.

My father raised an eyebrow at my question, probably because he was wondering why I asked about the White Room all of a sudden.

He emptied the glass and poured another from the whiskey bottle. "It's about to operate again in more or less six months. The Fifth Generation kids are still being hidden. They're more or less done with their curriculum, so you'll probably get to meet some of them next year."

"You're also planning to enroll them in ANHS?"

He nodded. "I have come to see Kijima-sensei's project as a good way to test the effectiveness of the White Room. It's a simple strategy. If the enemy is willing to allow you to take advantage of his resources, you have to take it," he replied, although I could tell he was not telling me the full picture of his plan.

"I wonder what's so interesting about that school. If we were in a different set-up where I never got out of the White Room, all I'd think of ANHS is a way to get away from your grasp for three years," I bluntly stated.

This degree of openness between myself and my father was a byproduct of our kind of amiable relationship over the past six months, where he personally taught me some of the things he learned in politics.

To his credit, he was not offended by my comment.

"Or... that's what I would make you think," he replied, a smirk adorning his hardened features.

What's with this guy and his newfound penchant for trying to screw with my mind?

But when I think about it from what I have known about him, it's a move he could and would pull off. He would probably indirectly force me to enroll in ANHS so I can learn how to think for myself and develop desires. Still, since I probably knew everything there was to learn in ANHS, my skills would no doubt deteriorate, and that's where the fifth-generation students come in to force me to resharpen my fangs.

Essentially, he'd simply be taking advantage of the generosity of the Kijima Faction to hone his tools in the White Room.

I still think the rationale is a little similar to the situation right now, but a lot of the objectives must have changed, given my growth over the past 17 months.

Hah. Overanalyzing my father's objectives and goalposts would just give me a headache. He may not be blessed with natural talent and intellect, but his degree of ambition really made him into something.

What could I, a 15-year-old boy, do against someone like this guy?

Nothing.

Which leaves me with no choice but to play along for a little longer. Remember Kiyotaka; patience is a virtue. Besides, It's just easier to let people think that everything's under control.

"You should try to visit from time to time, father. I know the no outsider rule does not apply to you," I said, downing the glass.

"I will. You better not stop growing in that environment, Kiyotaka, or I will be forced to take drastic measures," he warned me.

"How exactly am I supposed to discover a breakthrough over a high school experience? If it's socialization, I think I have considerably improved in that regard. The way I see it, this is basically a three-year vacation," I replied.

"You'll find out eventually."

How cryptic of you.

But it already gave me an idea of what to expect from this school...

Competition.

I do not know how that'll work, but I'll be looking forward if there are actually people worth my time in ANHS.

E.1

After my conversation with my father, I immediately headed downstairs, where I was met by Eiichiro and Tsubasa. Although I still had about a week before I departed for ANHS, the notion of my inevitable departure already had an impact on Tsubasa, who had been coming into the mansion daily.

The same applied to Eiichiro, but he practically lived here, so the conditions are a little different.

"Kiyotaka-senpai... I will miss you a lot!" Tsubasa exclaimed.

I ruffled the blonde-haired girl's hair and put my hands on her shoulder. "I'm still going to be here for a week, you know?"

Tsubasa pouted. "I know! But after that one week, I wouldn't be seeing you for a year. Who knows what will happen in a year? You might already be dating Chiaki-chan, Yuki-chan, or god forbid, a girl who I don't even know!"

My eyes narrowed at a certain part of Tsubasa's rant. Why would she include Yuki when she's not supposed to attend ANHS with Chiaki and me? As far as I know, Yuki was planning to further her rehabilitation and attend ANHS next year alongside Sakurako and Tsubasa.

"Yuki-chan? Are you implying what I think you're implying?"

Tsubasa's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with both of her hands. "Oh no! That was supposed to be a secret! Please don't tell Yuki-chan I let it slip. Pleaaase, Kiyotaka-senpai!"

The blonde looked like a puppy with how frantic she looked, especially since her hands were on the top of her head.

"Don't worry. I will pretend to be surprised when I see Yuki," I reassured Tsubasa, who perked up upon hearing it.

"Really?! You're the best, Kiyotaka-senpai! I love you!" Tsubasa ran up to me and hugged me tightly, allowing me to feel her developing breasts, that's somehow already bigger than Chiaki's.

"I don't understand what's the big deal about her enrolling ahead of schedule though. It's not like I decide what happens with her life," I muttered.

Tsubasa just shook her head. "Even though you have developed somewhat, you're still a Kiyotaka, Kiyotaka-senpai! You simply don't understand girls!"

"And I feel like it'll just be a headache if I had that talent. You know what they say... ignorance is bliss," I countered.

Eiichiro chuckled from the side. "Well said, Kiyotaka. But don't worry! We'll make sure to take good care of Tsubasa-chan while you're away. Right, Tsubasa-chan?"

Tsubasa rolled her eyes. "You? Take care of me? If anything, it'll be I who'll be taking care of you and your recklessness, Eiichiro no baka," she replied dismissively.

Eiichiro laughed it off. "Hey now, I'm not that reckless. And besides, you know you love me."

Tsubasa let go of me and then bowed at Eiichiro. "I only love Kiyotaka-senpai, but I'm thankful for your confession, Eiichiro," she said in jest.

Obviously, Eiichiro meant it platonically, given their sibling-like relationship, but Tsubasa saw it as a way to have vengeance on Eiichiro, who had plenty of fun teasing her before.

If I could laugh, I would laugh.

"As flattering as it was to hear Tsubasa profess her love for the 69th time, you guys down for ice cream?"

Tsubasa pouted at my dismissal. "That's really mean of you, Kiyotaka-senpai! Be more grateful that a pretty girl like me openly likes you," she jokingly whined.

Eiichiro took this as his chance to get revenge as his signature mischievous grin made its way to his face. "It ain't anything special when there are two pretty girls who also share the same sentiment," he said.

Tsubasa glared at Eiichiro. "What's that supposed to mean, Eiichiro?"

"Exactly what it means," he replied before sprinting off as Tsubasa chased after him.

I shook my head at their antics, but I couldn't help but smile. Even though I was going to be away from them for a year, it was comforting to know that they would take care of each other while I was gone.

Eventually, Tsubasa caught up to Eiichiro and had him in a headlock. I could tell Tsubasa wasn't exerting much effort in it and that Eiichiro was just going along with what Tsubasa was doing. After all, Tsubasa wasn't particularly a violent person... and Eiichiro just goes with the flow.

"Now... about ice cream?" I reminded them.

"You and your ice cream-chan," Eiichiro joked as he shook his head.

"You're really addicted to it, Kiyotaka-senpai," Tsubasa pointed out.

I shrugged my shoulders in response. "You guys like it too. So are we going, or are we going?"

Tsubasa giggled. "Do we even have a choice?"

"The illusion of choice, yes," I replied.

As we headed out of the mansion and towards the ice cream shop, I couldn't help but think about the upcoming year.

I would once again be immersed in a new environment, but I was ready for it. After all, my 17 months outside the White Room had already facilitated some semblance of growth in my person as well as a more holistic understanding of how humans work.

This new environment wouldn't even be a challenge.

E.2

Tsubaki Yuki

"Are you sure you'll be fine with going to school onee-san? Wouldn't it be better if we went with the original plan?"

I smiled at Sakurako, who had a worried expression on her face, a far departure from her usual stoic and cool appearance.

"I'll be fine, Saku-chan. Kiyotaka is there, so I'll be fine," I replied.

Since I managed to recover little by little, one of the first things I did was to build a relationship with my little sister, who was initially distraught by my dismissal of her existence. Before Kiyotaka came back into my life, all that was inside my head was Kiyotaka, and it made me indifferent to my family.

As time went by, Sakurako gave up on trying to reach me and became a distant girl who was deprived of a great relationship with her older sister. In the meantime, she developed a hatred of Kiyotaka, blaming him for why I returned the way I did and the fact that his existence was the only one I acknowledged.

Kiyotaka even told me that Sakurako's first words to him were, "I hate you."

I don't know if he got hurt by the bluntness of it, so I told him not to worry much about it because I love him.

Ara~! I'm so bold, aren't I?

Although Sakurako did eventually grow a soft spot for Kiyotaka, eventually referring to him as 'Kiyo-nii.' It was really cute. She was supportive of my romantic feelings for Kiyotaka.

It's a lesson those thieving cats Chiaki and Tsubasa should learn as well. Kiyotaka is mine, you know?

"But what if you run into a situation where Kiyo-nii can't save you? I'm worried about you, onee-san," Sakurako said before picking up a lollipop.

I smiled upon seeing Sakurako eating a lollipop. It filled my heart with joy knowing the reason why Sakurako had started eating them. The origins were pretty dismissive by nature... just as what you'd expect from Kiyotaka. After Sakurako told him that she hated him, Kiyotaka didn't bother replying and just gave her three lollipops.

I couldn't help but giggle as I imagined the scenario as it unfolded. Sakurako must have been confused! But she eventually took it as a message that Kiyotaka didn't care if she hated him, and upon learning from our father that Kiyotaka intended to have Sakurako talk to me when he first came over, she began looking at the lollipop as a symbolism of an olive branch being extended by Kiyotaka to her.

It's highly unlikely that Kiyotaka thought that far, but if it had a positive impact on Sakurako, I'm fine with letting her interpret things the way she wanted to interpret them.

Essentially, it was a motivator that gave Sakurako the needed courage to reach out to me once again.

I've been an unreasonable onee-san, haven't I?

"Don't worry too much about me, Saku-chan. I can deal with whatever problems come my way. Your onee-san managed to recover from her pathetic state, didn't she? What's a bunch of high schoolers going to do?" I reassured Sakurako.

Sakurako's face reverted back to its deadpan look. "As if you'd even recover without Kiyo-nii," she countered.

I wanna cry.

Sakurako's tongue remained as sharp as ever!

"Quit being mean, Saku-chan! Hey, I have an idea... why don't we take a photo together?" I asked Sakurako, who seemed lost at what I was suggesting.

Our mother stumbled upon us and giggled as she saw me trying to pull Sakurako off the couch.

"Mama! Take a photo of Saku-chan and me!" I told her as I handed my phone over to her.

Our mother giggled and took my phone. On my end, I successfully dragged Sakurako off the couch and put a hand on her arm as I pushed my cheek against hers.

"You girls are so cute! Okay, in 3, 2, 1, smile!"

"Here you go, Yuki-chan!" She handed me back my phone, and upon examining the photo, I couldn't help but gush at how adorable Sakurako and I looked.

"Saku-chan... I have already made up my mind. I will go to ANHS alongside Kiyotaka and Chiaki. Don't worry too much about your onee-san, okay? I'll be fine."

Sakurako simply stared at me before she smiled. "You better take care of yourself, onee-san. Also, send me that photo. I'll make it my lockscreen."

"You're so adorable, Saku-chaan!"

"Stop it! That's embarrassing. Get off, onee-san!"

"Don't wanna!"

E.3

Matsushita Chiaki

"You better take care of yourself, Chiaki-chan! ANHS is a different beast, you know?"

"Don't worry too much about me, okaa-sama! It's not like I don't have any friends there, you know?" I replied to ease her up a little.

My mother had always been a worrywart towards my father and I, and although I am happy to have such a caring mother, there are times when she can get a little overbearing. Not that I blame her for it.

"Fufufu! You better take advantage of this opportunity and ensnare Kiyotaka-kun!"

It would seem like all of her worries had vanished upon my mention that I have friends in the school... also, you don't have to tell me twice, okaa-sama!

I will definitely date Kiyotaka-kun before we graduate. Although... Yuki-chan's sudden decision to enroll would prove to be a challenge.

But hey... what's life without a couple of challenges, right?

I will win!

"Of course I will. I am not your daughter for nothing, okaa-sama," I winked at my mother, who let out a graceful giggle in response.

"It's still concerning to me, Chiaki-chan. After all, we wouldn't be seeing you in three years. I'll just have to trust Kiyotaka-kun to take care of you... and you better return home with him holding your hand, okay?"

I giggled at my mother's words.

That said, I've also prepared myself for a scenario where that dream wouldn't come true. I mean... as I should, right?

I am the daughter of a rich family; I shouldn't be too hung up on a boy if my romantic pursuits fail.

But of course, as a young maiden in love, I'll definitely be trying to get Kiyotaka-kun for myself... and enjoy high school along the way.

E.4

Unknown POV

I admit I was thoroughly surprised when Tsubaki Takeshi requested an audience with me... and I was even more surprised when the topic ended up being his daughter, who was broken by her education in the White Room.

For the past seven years, Tsubaki had mostly given up on the thought that his daughter would eventually recover... simply settling on a decent alternative of ensuring Tsubaki Yuki simply lives... even though she had lost the meaning of her existence.

It was probably just guilt sinking in on Tsubaki, as he willingly gave up his daughter to be part of that inhuman experiment.

That being said... I also found an interesting tidbit of development.

To think Ayanokōji Kiyotaka-kun's emergence in the outside world would allow for the rehabilitation of someone who was broken by the cruel ways of the fourth generation.

But she still hadn't fully healed from her defect. Her existence remains reliant on Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, and as such, I couldn't afford to place her in a different class.

That being said, Ayanokōji-sensei really is a difficult man... to think I'll have to place two geniuses in Class D simply because he wanted to test out his son.

It all happened last night.

Ayanokōji-sensei called in one of his favors, and he used it to task me to have his son Kiyotaka be placed in the lowest class. This decision also meant that instead of Yuki's initial evaluation of being put into Class B... or A, as that was Ayanokōji Kiyotaka-kun's evaluation, she'd have to be placed in Class D as well.

Haah. Another day in the life of Sakayanagi Shigemori, I guess.

I'll be looking forward to what the Masterpiece and his project could do here at ANHS.

End of Volume 0

A/N: Volume 0 is finally over! To think we'd be able to get this far without being burnt out by the rate of chucking out chapters.

So here are a couple of explanations:

1. Papayanagi is calling Yuki as the project, given his knowledge of Yuki still being in the process of rehabilitation.

1.1. Apparently, Papayanagi's first name is Shigemori

2. Ayanopapa and Kiyo had a more cordial relationship as a byproduct of Kiyo's rapid progress in his training. They're not friendly, per se, but Ayanopapa is convinced that being a politician would be the best use of Kiyo's skills moving forward.

2.1. Kiyo was only able to make an educated guess on what would be Ayanopapa's plans had he not left the White Room because Ayanopapa let him know that he intended for the 5th Gen to enroll when Kiyotaka's in his second year. Obviously, the plans had changed, given Kiyotaka was now more or less capable of thinking for himself.

3. Sakurako did indeed hate Kiyotaka because of how Yuki's existence revolved around him. However, she had come to like him (in a brotherly manner) as she found out that Kiyo intended for her to develop a relationship with Yuki.

3.1. On the other hand, Kiyo simply thinks that Sakurako is calling him Kiyo-nii simply because Yuki likes him... and he couldn't be more wrong about it.

4. While she hadn't exhibited it thus far... Yuki IS STILL broken, but she's able to mask it because of the progress in her treatment and development.

4.1. Also, despite her seemingly antagonistic view of Tsubasa and Chiaki, she does actually see them as friends as she told them of her plans to enroll early in ANHS. She simply doesn't like the idea of having to compete for Kiyo.