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 4 - Youth, Friendships, and Pink-Haired Girls
Horikita Suzune
Looking at how Chabashira-sensei reacted throughout the entire ordeal, I could tell that Ayanokōji-kun and his group were correct in just about everything they had revealed.
Defective.
Class D... the lowest of the low.
Why...
Why was I placed in a class where I did not belong?
My heart pounded with frustration as I gazed at my classmates, all of them labeled as the school's outcasts. I had always dreamed of attending this elite institution... to finally catch up to nii-san, and now that I had finally made it, I couldn't believe I was stuck in this pit of despair.
Haven't I studied enough? Haven't I worked hard enough?
I had spent countless nights studying, pouring over textbooks, and working to become the best version of myself. But it seemed that my hard work had been for nothing. The school apparently evaluated me as "defective."
They deemed me to be a person who somehow fit with the class that was doomed to suffer sooner rather than later because it was a cesspool of defective failures.
I clenched my fists, feeling a surge of anger wash over me. I refused to accept this fate, to be labeled as a failure. I had worked too hard and come too far to be thrown away like trash.
I won't accept it!
I would never accept it!
I haven't worked so hard over the years to catch up to nii-san, only for my efforts to be invalidated like this.
My thoughts drifted to my older brother, who had always been my inspiration. He had attended this school two years ago, and just as expected, he excelled and became the Student Council President. I had always wanted to follow in his footsteps, to make him proud. But now, it seemed like that dream was slipping away.
As Chabashira-sensei left the classroom, my mind raced with questions. How come I was assigned to Class D? Was it some sort of conspiracy? Or was it simply an oversight on the school's part?
I will get to the bottom of this. Surely, my placement in this class was an error. Maybe there had been some mistake, some miscommunication that had landed me in this class. I would do whatever it took to uncover the truth and prove my worth.
"What a scary look you got there, Horikita."
Looking up, I saw Ayanokōji-kun's penetrating gaze fixed on me, his sharp eyes piercing my very soul. He seemed to be studying me with a mix of curiosity and concern as if trying to unravel the mystery of my thoughts.
"What do you want?" I asked, trying to mask the irritation in my voice.
"You seemed lost in thought," he said, his expression unreadable. "Is everything alright?"
I hesitated, unsure if I should confide in him. After all, I was uncertain of how he would view my predicament. But at the same time, he seemed to be the only one who understood my predicament, being the person who saw through the school's façade of perfection and hierarchy.
"I don't belong in this class," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know how I ended up here, but it's a mistake. A grave mistake."
Ayanokōji-kun raised an eyebrow as if intrigued by my words. "And what makes you say that?"
"Look at us and then look at them," I gestured to the classroom filled with students who were deemed "defective" and unworthy by the school's standards. "Class D is supposed to be the lowest of the low, the bottom of the barrel. People like us don't belong here. Don't you agree, Ayanokōji-kun?"
Ayanokōji-kun listened to me in silence, his eyes never leaving mine. For a moment, I felt like he understood my frustration, my anger, my despair. And yet, there was something in his gaze that made me uneasy, as if he knew something that I didn't.
"I see," he said finally, his voice neutral. "But you do belong here, Horikita."
I frowned. Those words weren't the words I wanted to hear from him. Was he looking down on me?
"Are you looking down on me?" I sent a glare in his direction that didn't even bother him one bit.
"Of course. You think you're so high and mighty, but you can't even see the answer that is right in front of your face. People like you are bound to be dragged down to the ground sooner or later, Horikita," he replied.
My blood boiled at his words. How dare he speak to me like that? Who did he think he was?
"What are you trying to say?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"If intelligence were the sole barometer in measuring a student's placement, I would definitely agree that you deserve to be placed in another class, but here we are. What does that tell you, Horikita?" He rhetorically asked.
The answer manifested itself in my mind... but I couldn't bring myself to accept it.
Seeing as I remained muted, Ayanokōji-kun continued. "This school does not intend to produce only intelligent people, Horikita. The premise of this school alone already said that ANHS aims to nurture people who will contribute to the future of Japan. Do you seriously think only intelligent people can have an impact on Japan?"
I gritted my teeth in frustration, but I did manage to find the courage to stare him straight in the eyes.
"You think I have a defect?"
"I don't think you have a defect. I know you have a defect," he replied.
"What do you think it was then?" I asked.
"With how you acted towards me and everyone else thus far and your insistence on being by yourself, your flaw is that you wouldn't be able to survive in the real world. Lone wolves rarely do. That's why you're here," he answered.
"How is that a bad thing? Self-sufficiency should be seen as a virtue rather than a defect," I countered.
Ayanokōji-kun shook his head in mirth as if mocking my every word. I disliked how he was looking down on me... and surprisingly enough, it wasn't the thing that I disliked most.
I disliked the fact that he, of all people, thought of me as nothing different compared to the rest of our defective classmates.
With how great he had presented himself to be in terms of analysis and connecting people, you'd think he'd recognize that I, too, had potential. It irks me to be ignored like this.
It's just like with nii-san all over again.
Ayanokōji-kun turned his head to me and said, "I won't argue with that... but now that we've gone and talked about it, you want to reach Class A, right?"
What kind of question is that? Of course, I do. Now that I have some knowledge about this school's true nature, that is what I intend to do. After all, I deserve to be there.
"Of course. Reaching class A will now be my main goal," I replied.
"That's good, but Horikita, to survive in the real world means to work with other people regardless of their stature and capacities. Now, here in this school, it is important for a class to move as a well-oiled machine... and I hope you forgive me for these words, but someone like you who seemingly rejects any sort of social interaction... is nothing more than a liability."
I said nothing as I took in Ayanokōji-kun's words. They're harsh... but I couldn't deny the truth in his words, no matter how much I attempted to drown the thought down.
"But it's not like you're hopeless, aren't you? You simply need to realize you have to improve, and you'll be a tremendous asset to the class," he suddenly said.
"Your words may have merit, Ayanokōji-kun, but those are simply assumptions at this point. I will confirm with my own eyes and ears why I was placed here. I will ask Chabashira-sensei immediately after class," I replied.
Again, Ayanokōji-kun's sharp gaze examined me. "If I were you, I'd just take my losses and work towards proving everyone wrong and work with the Class to reach Class A," he replied.
"I will work with the class to reach Class A, but I still need to see if what you have said was actually true. I still do not think myself to be a defective student."
Ayanokōji-kun didn't reply, simply sending me a glance before sighing and turning away.
I do have to admit... his words had struck a chord within me, but I refused to let him see that. I was determined to prove him wrong, to show him that I was not defective like how he saw me.
Deep down, however, I knew Ayanokōji-kun's words had merits to them when you look at it from his perspective, wherein he believes that being able to socially contribute is key to succeeding in this school. I couldn't deny the fact that I had always been a lone wolf, preferring to work on my own rather than collaborate with others. In fact, I was proud of my self-sufficiency. I just didn't see the point in wasting my time on meaningless social interactions.
But it would seem like this school wishes nothing more than to make me challenge my ideals.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I couldn't afford to get distracted. I needed to find out the truth about my placement in Class D, and I knew Chabashira-sensei would have some answers.
Fortunately, it wouldn't take me long to get exactly what I wanted because Chabashira-sensei's subject was the last one of our morning schedule. I walked up to her desk and asked if I could talk to her later about some concerns. Chabashira-sensei agreed and asked me to stop by the Faculty Office after her class.
Soon after, the Japanese History class ended. I observed as the class slowly began to disperse. Some of them even had groups, the most prominent being Ayanokōji-kun and Hirata-kun's shared group—the same group that practically shattered everyone's illusion that this school was a paradise.
I paid them no mind and decided to complete my objective of the day: to find answers.
After some minutes of walking, I finally made my way into the faculty office and opened the door of the said office. I looked all around, but I didn't find Chabashira-sensei anywhere.
I called out to a teacher who was inspecting her appearance in a mirror.
"Excuse me, is Chabashira-sensei here?"
"Hmm? Sae-chan? Oh, she was just here a moment ago."
The teacher had wavy, shoulder-length hair, which made her look mature. The way she said Chabashira-sensei's name made them sound close. They were near in age and probably friends.
"She must have stepped away for a minute. Do you want to wait here?"
I nodded my head.
"I must say I'm surprised that one of Sae-chan's students would approach her this early. Do you guys already see her as some sort of a motherly figure?" The teacher asked, giggling as if she had made a funny joke.
She seemed to be Chabashira-sensei's polar opposite.
"I'm Hoshinomiya Chie, the homeroom teacher of Class B. Sae and I have been best friends since high school. That's why we call each other Sae-chan and Chie-chan," Hoshinomiya-sensei introduced herself.
"Now, what's your name? Now that I think about it, you kinda remind me of Sae-chan when we were students... but with smaller boobs! Make sure not to grow up like her, okay~? You're really cute, after all!"
How irritating.
"Horikita Suzune," I replied.
"Woah! Horikita? Are you related to Horikita Manabu? Scratch that! You are definitely related to him! You share the same features, after all. Fufu, to think the stern, stingy Horikita-kun also had a stern, stingy mini-me..." Hoshinomiya-sensei giggled.
A mini-me, huh? The thought brought a small smile to my face.
"It seems like you're already here, Horikita. Good. Let's go to the guidance office."
Chabashira-sensei appeared out of nowhere and invited me to another room which was beside the faculty office.
"Woah! You're giving guidance to your students this early, Sae-chan? Uwaaaa! I'm so proud of you! You're finally embracing being a teacher," Hoshinomiya-sensei cheered and wiped fake tears from her eyes.
Chabashira-sensei gritted her teeth and glared at the Class B adviser. "Stop being a nuisance, Hoshinomiya. Horikita, follow me."
I followed Chabashira-sensei into the Guidance Office, and upon closing the door, I immediately went for my objective for this conversation.
"Sensei, I will be frank. Why was I placed in Class D?"
Chabashira-sensei looked up at me, her expression inscrutable. "That's quite frank. Why do you ask?"
"You told the class earlier that Ayanokōji-kun and Tsubaki-san had an announcement to make, one that revealed how Class D was the supposed gathering of leftovers. Even if you did not verbally confirm it, your body language earlier indicated that you knew their findings were correct," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
Chabashira-sensei sighed. "That's true. That said, you must consider yourself to be a superior student compared to most."
"I solved nearly every problem on the entrance examination. I made no substantial mistakes in the interview, either. At the very least, I shouldn't have been sorted into Class D."
"Just as you said, you did well on the entrance examination. You had the third-highest test score among the first-year students and were close to the highest and second-highest-scoring students. You did exceedingly well. And you're right: We found no particular problems in your interview. On the contrary, we evaluated you quite highly," Chabashira-sensei replied, making me confused and infuriated.
This really was a mistake. I did not deserve to be in Class D.
"Thank you very much. So then...why?"
"Before I answer, why are you dissatisfied with Class D?"
"Who could be happy with an incorrect evaluation? You said it yourself, sensei. I did well on both the written examination and the interviews. Of course, I'm dissatisfied. That's why I want to know why I am placed in Class D."
Chabashira-sensei snickered. "I suppose I can tell you, but I don't think you'll like the answer."
"I don't care. I just want to know the truth," I said, my tone unyielding.
"Very well," Chabashira-sensei said, leaning back in her chair. "I acknowledge that your academic ability is excellent. You're certainly very smart. However, who decided that smart people are categorically superior? We never said that."
I felt a pang of anger at her words. Ayanokōji-kun's words earlier rang back in my mind, reminding me of my inadequacy. I may have expected this answer already, but it still stung.
Chabashira-sensei leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "You're not the only one who also performed well in the entrance exams but was still placed in the lowest-ranking class. Other excellent students found their way in this class too."
I raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Other students?"
"Yes. You're not alone in this. But the reason why you were placed in Class D is simple: it's a matter of balance," Chabashira-sensei explained.
"Balance?"
"Yes. When we place students in classes, we don't just look at their academic abilities. We also consider their personalities, their backgrounds, and their potential for growth. We try to create a balance within each class so that every student has the opportunity to learn from each other and grow together."
I frowned. "So you're saying that I was placed in Class D because of my personality?"
"In part, yes. Your academic abilities are certainly impressive, but the school also took into account the severity of your defect when considering where you would be sorted. The school thought that being in Class D would provide you with the opportunity to develop those skills and learn from your classmates who may have different strengths than you do."
I bristled at the suggestion that I needed to step into a zone that was foreign to what I had known. "I see. And what about the other students in Class D who performed well? Why were they placed in Class D? Are they also lacking in social skills?"
Chabashira-sensei hesitated for a moment before answering. "Not necessarily. There were other factors at play in their placement as well. But I can't discuss those with you, as they are confidential."
Ayanokōji-kun's name came to mind. I couldn't understand how someone like him was even sorted into the lowest class. Even his closest companion, Tsubaki-san, doesn't seem too far off from Ayanokōji-kun in terms of abilities.
As much as it pains me to admit it, they were both better than me. After all, they were able to find out the mystery of the school in just one day.
I gritted my teeth in frustration. This was not the answer I was hoping for. I had been hoping for some kind of mistake that could be rectified, but it seemed that my placement in Class D was intentional.
"I see. Thank you for your time, sensei," I said, standing up to leave.
"Don't feel too down about your placement, Horikita. You have seen some brilliant classmates of yours, didn't you?" Chabashira-sensei then chuckled. "Heh. They might not even need you to get to Class A. That Ayanokōji sure was something," she finished.
I glared at the ground upon hearing Chabashira-sensei's words. I did not like how she was blatantly dismissing me as if I was unimportant. Sure, I may not carry Ayanokōji-kun's impressive analytical prowess nor Tsubaki-san's capability to command a crowd, but I am a capable person in my own right.
I will prove her and this school wrong.
I deserve to stand amongst the elite.
4.1
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
"Horikita-san really seemed agitated when you talked to her earlier, Kiyotaka-kun. What did you say to her?"
After Chabashira-sensei's Japanese History class concluded, Chiaki, Yuki, and I headed for lunch. Supposedly, we were going to have lunch with Hirata and his harem, but I was drained from all the talking I had done earlier, so I called a rain check on our lunch schedule.
Despite my improved social skills, I still have my limits. I envy Eiichiro and Yuki for excelling in that regard.
That said, Chiaki's question immediately attracted Yuki's attention, and the blonde-haired girl turned to me with a look that said, "you better select your words properly."
"Horikita was dissatisfied with her placement in Class D and asked me if I felt the same way, so I told her that she did deserve to be placed in this class," I replied.
"She does seem to be the type to be unaccepting of being labeled as a defect... but that said, she must now hold you in high regard because she asked for your opinion," Chiaki pointed out.
"So long as she knows her place, I will allow her to look up to Kiyotaka. It's something that's to be expected, after all," Yuki giggled.
I raised an eyebrow at Yuki's words. "Knows her place?"
Yuki nodded. "That's right. So long as she doesn't delude herself into thinking she could be your girlfriend, I'd allow her to look up to you," she answered.
Yuki, I don't think you have the privilege to gatekeep me. I'm a person, not a property. But I do appreciate your high appraisal of me. Thank you.
"That said, I'm really impressed at how Kiyotaka-kun's prediction all came true! Are you sure you don't have the power to see into the future, Kiyotaka-kun?"
Perhaps I could crack a joke because they've both been bothersome today.
"If I could see into the future, I would have avoided meeting either of you," I joked.
The two girls pouted and glared at me.
"You don't mean that!" Yuki contested.
"What she said! Maybe try looking up the internet so you can crack funny jokes, Robotkōji Kiyobaka-kun," Chiaki added.
Yuki turned to Chiaki and grinned. "That's a good name, Chiaki-chan! Fufu, our tally of Kiyo-nicknames is increasing by the day."
Chiaki had a smug look on her face. "I know, right? What do you think, Robotkōji Kiyobaka-kun?"
I stared at Chiaki for a second and then decided to ignore her and, instead, took a bite out of my lunch.
"Hey! Don't ignore me!"
"Kiyotaka would never ignore me. Again, a testament of just how much better I am than you, Chiaki-chan," Yuki smugly said to the brown-haired girl, who rolled her eyes at Yuki's provocation.
"You would never ignore me, right, Kiyotaka?" The blonde turned her head in my direction, clearly demanding me to acknowledge her.
Just like with Chiaki, I looked at Yuki for a second and then decided to say nothing and took a bite out of my lunch.
Yuki didn't take kindly to my treatment of her as she reached out for my left cheek and pinched it.
I winced at the sudden pain and looked at Yuki, who had a certain glint in her eyes.
"Pay attention to me, Kiyotaka," Yuki said with an eerie smile adorning her face.
I took her hand off my face and gently put it back on her side of the table.
"Apparently, you're not that much better than me, Yuki-chan," Chiaki said in a mocking tone.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement at the banter between Chiaki and Yuki. They always found ways to one-up each other. If only they didn't get carried away from time to time...
"You girls are quite a handful," I remarked, trying to change the subject.
"Is that a compliment or an insult?" Yuki asked with a raised eyebrow.
I turned to Yuki before once again taking a bite out of my lunch. "Take it however you want."
Yuki smirked. "I'll take it as a compliment, then."
Chiaki rolled her eyes again. "Only you would take that as a compliment, Yuki-chan."
"What's wrong with that?" Yuki turned to Chiaki, grinning from ear to ear. "It simply means I'm doing a great job in making Kiyotaka's life better."
"Better?" I deadpanned.
Chiaki chuckled while Yuki looked at me with a mixture of amusement and annoyance.
"Fine, be like that," Yuki muttered before taking a bite out of her own lunch.
I shook my head in amusement and decided to finish up my lunch as well. I'm glad Chiaki and Yuki seemed to have made up and are once again talking like they normally do.
Just as I was about to sink my teeth into my food, music played through the speakers.
"At five PM Japan Standard Time today, we will be holding a student club fair in Gymnasium No. 1. Students interested in joining a club, please gather in Gymnasium No. 1. I repeat, at—"
A girl with a sweet voice continued the announcement. Club activities, huh?
"I have a crazy idea," Yuki suddenly said.
"All your ideas are crazy, Yuki-chan, but what do you have in mind?" Chiaki inquired.
Yuki had a grin on her face. "Why don't we all apply for the Student Council and take over the school?" She suggested.
You sound like a supervillain there, Yuki. Calm down a little.
I wonder if there's a club that I could join. Now that I've finally gotten the chance to study in a normal—well, normal in comparison to the White Room—school, joining a club might be a good avenue to explore my youth.
"Are you interested in joining a club, Kiyotaka-kun?" Chiaki asked, noticing my pensive expression.
"Chiaki, didn't you say before you played the Violin?" I asked.
Chiaki nodded. "Yeah! I told you about it during the Christmas Gala a year ago. What about it?"
"I like playing the piano. If there's a music club somewhere, I think it'd be a good idea for us to join," I replied.
Chiaki's eyes sparkled. "Ara ara~! To think you'd be so bold as to invite me to the club you're planning to be a part of, Kiyotaka-kun. Is this perhaps an indirect confession?"
Surprisingly, Yuki didn't react negatively. If anything, the blonde-haired girl had a wide grin on her face.
"Good thinking, Kiyotaka! Let's see if Chiaki dies like Kaori did, fufufu!"
Uhh... what?
Seeing my look of confusion, Yuki raised an eyebrow. "You didn't see Your Lie in April? It was a popular anime that had just finished a couple of weeks ago." (This conversation happened on April 2, 2015. Your Lie in April ended on March 19, 2015, so it was still quite relevant here)
"Yeah. I hadn't watched that one before," I confirmed.
"It's a show that featured a pianist protagonist and a violinist female lead. I won't bother you with the details, but the violinist died in the end," Yuki narrated.
Chiaki, to her credit, wasn't offended. "You also forgot to mention that they fell in love with each other," she giggled.
Yuki glared at her. "That's irrelevant. What matters is that the violinist died," she argued.
"The violinist had blonde hair."
"That's fine. At least the main character fell in love with her."
"That was my point earlier!"
"It's different now because we're talking about their hair color, Chiaki-chan!"
"No, no. You admitted the violinist, Kaori, and the main character fell in love with each other, so I win."
"You're not blonde!"
"At least I can play the violin."
"I can play the violin too! Ask Kiyotaka!"
What the hell is going on? I'm... so lost.
As the two turned their head in my direction, I simply nodded. Yuki does play the violin as part of our training in the White Room. I could play it as well, but I have a stronger affinity with the piano.
"Okay, let's go with that. Now let's recheck the facts. You're blonde and can play the violin, yes?"
Yuki nodded.
"Rest in peace then."
"Grrr!"
It seemed like Chiaki won their banter. She's been on a 5-banter winning streak now. Keep it up, Chiaki.
"Enough about that. Would you girls like it if we came along with Hirata and the others for the club fair, or would it be better if it were just the three of us?" I asked.
"Can we go with Hirata and the others? I did want to catch up with Sato-san and Karuizawa-san since we went out shopping yesterday," Chiaki replied.
Yuki had a contemplative look on her face. "As much as I'd love to have more time with just us, I think it'd be better to hang out with Karuizawa-san and the others. I still haven't complimented Karuizawa-san for the job she did earlier," she answered.
Chiaki nodded at this. "I agree! Karuizawa-san was a really good actress, wasn't she?"
"Sudo also did work, you know?" I pointed out.
"It's not like it's part of your plan, Kiyotaka-kun. But I do admit it's funny how that hothead was the one who ironically made everyone realize their situation," Chiaki remarked.
It was funny and ironic, indeed.
"Speaking of what happened earlier... what's next, Kiyotaka?" Yuki asked.
I turned my head to Yuki and smiled at her.
"What do you think?"
Yuki shook her head in amusement. "Knowing you, I don't think you'd be spoonfeeding them and, instead, delegate that task to Hirata. You'd probably just assess our classmates and pick out who's useful," she answered.
That's about right, but not completely.
"Kind of. But we still have more things to explore. I'll talk to you guys about it later."
"Okay!"
I'd like to enjoy some peace for now and see if Class D is able to fully understand their situation and show that they're willing to change.
But that doesn't mean I'll just be sitting on my laurels. I still have to confirm if my theory of a battle exam or special exam was true... but that's not exactly a priority for now.
Hopefully, there's a music club in this school.
I don't exactly want to join the club, but I'm hoping they will let me play their piano. It's been a while since I played the piano, and I have to admit I missed playing it.
4.2
"What the hell is with these incredibly high-class facilities!"
Karuizawa exclaimed in wonder as she read through the pamphlet given to us earlier as we entered the gymnasium.
"The Soccer Club here definitely has more sophisticated facilities compared to my junior high club," Hirata commented as his eyes focused on the portion of the Soccer Club.
"That reminds me, Hirata. What position do you play?" I asked.
Hirata turned to me and smiled. "I play as an Attacking Midfielder, but I could also play central midfield. I idolized Kaka and Zidane, which was why I also wanted to play the position that they played," he replied.
"Kaka is in the MLS now, right?" I asked. (Kaka played for Orlando City from 2014-2017)
To think I'd be engaging in small talk with Hirata... how amusing.
Hirata nodded. "He's almost at the end of his career. It makes me a little sad thinking about it, you know? But I'm happy at just being able to witness his greatness," Hirata grinned.
"Ne, ne, Ayanokōji-kun, what club are you interested in joining?"
I turned my head to Sato, who was smiling at me.
"He's going to join the Student Council so he can rule over the school!" Yuki declared.
I flicked Yuki's forehead in response. "That sounds unflattering, Yuki. I'm not some evil megalomaniac who wants to rule the school," I chided the girl, who giggled at my reaction.
"I mean... I don't think it's unimaginable for you to be in the Student Council, Ayanokōji-kun," Sato remarked.
"Yeah! You were so cool in class earlier, you know? Inogashira-san even said she's starting to admire you," Mori added.
"Admire? I didn't even do anything," I replied.
Yuki shook her head, "You really don't understand women, Kiyotaka," she replied.
"Eh? You're not mad at someone being interested in me?" I asked curiously.
"It's Inogashira-san. She's a shy girl, so she knows her place," Yuki replied matter-of-factly.
"That's really blunt of you, Tsubaki-san," Mori deadpanned.
"But unlike what Yuki said, I'm actually more interested in joining the Music Club. I might check out the Student Council, though, since Yuki seems to insist," I replied.
Mori's eyes widened. "Oh yeah! I remember you saying that in your introductions. But to join the music club... are you any good, Ayanokōji-kun?" She asked.
I nodded my head. "I can play a couple of instruments on a high level, but I like playing the piano the most. Yuki here could also play some instruments while Chiaki plays the violin," I replied.
"I like playing the piano too!"
To our surprise, Wang spoke in an excited voice.
The indigo-haired girl, upon noticing the stares she was receiving, was flustered.
"Really? That's really cool, Mii-chan!" Karuizawa spoke in interest.
Wang nodded her head. "My parents did kind of force me to learn how to play it when we were still in China, but I grew to love playing it," she replied.
"Wang, would you believe me if I said I could play Scriabin's 5th Piano Sonata?" I asked, and as expected, Wang's eyes widened.
"You're not kidding, right?"
"I'm not. If we could play at the music club later, I'll even show everyone."
"That's like one of the hardest pieces to play! Sviatoslav Richter even said it's the most difficult piece to play," Wang replied.
"You're really into the piano, aren't you, Mii-chan?" Karuizawa teased the Chinese girl, who blushed.
"And Kiyotaka here is just casually showing off!" Yuki added.
"Yeah! If what Mii-chan said was true, Ayanokōji-kun is practically claiming he could play one of the hardest piano pieces," Mori added.
"It is hard but not impossible," I replied.
"I mean... is there anything that's impossible for you, Ayanokōji-kun?" Mori asked in a dry tone.
"Living a peaceful life," I immediately replied.
Hirata chuckled. "It's hard to do so when you have a harem, Ayanokōji-kun. You better take good care of Tsubaki-san and Matsushita-san," Hirata chimed in.
Hey, that harem joke thing... that's my line! That's uncharacteristically cheeky of you, Hirata.
To my surprise, the two girls weren't refuting Hirata's words, simply nodding their heads in agreement.
"That's right! Take good care of me, Kiyotaka!" Yuki said in a demanding tone.
"Whatever."
"Thank you all for waiting, first-year students. We will now begin the club fair. A representative from each club will explain their function. My name is Tachibana, the student council secretary and the club fair's organizer. It's nice to meet you all."
After Tachibana delivered the opening remarks, representatives from each club quickly lined up on a stage. It was quite a diverse crowd. The club representatives included everything from burly athletes in judo uniforms to students dressed in beautiful kimonos.
After some small clubs spoke their spiels, a girl dressed in archery gear stepped onto the stage. "Hello, my name is Hashigaki, the captain of the archery club. Many students may be under the impression that archery is an old-fashioned, simple activity, but it is actually a fun and rewarding sport. We welcome beginners with open arms. If you're interested, please consider joining."
"Wasn't there someone in our class that wanted to join the Archery Club?" I asked.
Hirata nodded his head. "Miyake Akito-kun, I believe."
"Must be nice. He's going to be joining a club with a pretty senpai," I muttered.
"What did you say, Kiyotaka? I think I must have heard you say something about a pretty senpai," Yuki spoke in a rather spooky tone.
I rolled my eyes. "Because she IS pretty. Don't worry too much about it, Yuki. I'm not going after every beautiful woman I see," I deadpanned.
"Y-You better!"
Hirata chuckled at our exchange. "Between us, Ayanokōji-kun, you're the one dealing with harem protagonist shenanigans," he teased.
"Hey, it says here that it only takes three people to form a club," Chiaki suddenly spoke, her hand holding one of the pamphlets. "Why don't we make a Kiyotaka Fan Club? KFC!"
Yuki then walked towards Chiaki, leaned on to her ear, and whispered something that got her flustered.
I wonder what that was all about.
"Y-Yuki-chan! Th-that's so lewd!" Chiaki exclaimed in surprise.
Just what did Yuki tell her?
Before we knew it, the clubs had finished introducing themselves one by one, and the only one that remained was a boy with a stern face. He had black hair, a strong posture, glasses, and a piercing gaze to match.
He stood in front of the microphone, scanning through the crowd but not saying a single word. This remained for a minute, which led to some of the students murmuring among themselves. Even Karuizawa and Sato were talking about it.
I heard some students speculate that he had stage fright or that he forgot his lines, but his gaze did not waver one bit. There was no hint of hesitation and anxiety in his posture. He simply stood there, unmoving.
"Do your best!"
"Did you forget to bring your notecards?"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
The first-year students hurled comments at him. However, the upperclassman stood on the stage calmly, without trembling. The laughter and comments didn't seem to faze him. When the laughter had reached a crescendo, it suddenly died. He wore an apathetic expression.
So that's his game, huh?
Building a tense atmosphere to ensure everyone who would be listening to his piece would have a sense of unease to them. This strategy could go two ways: it could either dissuade everyone from being in proximity with a senpai like him, or it could encourage brazen individuals to try and prove their worth.
And as what this upperclassman intended, the relaxed atmosphere inside the gymnasium was turned over its head, now replaced by an unbelievably tense, quiet mood that gripped the entire gymnasium.
Even though no orders had been given, the silence was so terrible that it seemed to have gagged everyone. Not a single student looked able to open his or her mouth. The silence continued for about thirty seconds or so...
Then, the student started his speech, slowly scanning the crowd.
"I'm the student council president. My name is Horikita Manabu," he said.
Now, that's interesting.
I wonder if the Horikita Suzune of today was a byproduct of Horikita Manabu's influence. That girl was so rigid and stiff that it made it hard to believe that's a personality she crafted on her own.
Not that it's any of my business.
"The student council is looking to recruit potential candidates among the first-year students to replace the graduating third years. Although no special qualifications are required for candidacy, we humbly ask that those considering application not be involved in other club activities. We generally do not accept students involved elsewhere," he spoke in a soft tone.
No special qualifications, huh? It's a stretch, but in a way, that's a subtle hint that there was going to be preferential treatment depending on which class you belonged to, but it did not apply to Horikita Manabu, who would accept you so long as you have value.
"Furthermore, we in the student council do not wish to appoint anyone who possesses a naive outlook. Not only would such a person not be elected, he or she would sully the sanctity of this school. It is the student council's right and duty to enforce and amend the rules, but the school expects more than that. We gladly welcome those of you who understand this," Horikita Manabu finished without even pausing or stuttering.
What tremendous presence and display of ability.
"Horikita-senpai looks like a refined version of Horikita-san, doesn't he?" Chiaki commented.
"You also noted the connection?" I asked.
Chiaki nodded her head. "It's obvious. They both have the same hair and eye color. He must be the reason why Horikita-san enrolled here," she guessed.
"Thank you all for coming. The club fair has ended. We will now open the reception area to anyone interested in signing up. Also, registration will be open until the end of April, so if any student wishes to join at a later date, we ask that you please bring the application form directly to the club you wish to join."
Thanks to the laid-back energy of Tachibana-senpai, the tension in the air dissipated. Afterward, the third-year students who'd introduced their respective clubs started taking applications.
"Ayanokōji-kun, girls, I'll be going to apply to the Soccer Club. I'll just keep in touch through our group chat," Hirata said.
"Sure thing. Good luck, Hirata," I replied.
The girls also wished Hirata luck as the dirty-blonde-haired boy waved us goodbye.
"Are you girls also applying to a club?" I asked.
Hirata's harem said they weren't interested in joining a club but would simply be sightseeing. Not a bad way to go around it, now that I thought about it.
Also, since Horikita-senpai left the gymnasium, it seemed like Tachibana-senpai was left in charge of admitting applicants to the student council. Since the end of the club fair, I haven't seen any student approaching her.
I kind of feel bad.
"Hey, why don't we stop by Tachibana-senpai's table? She looked really lonely," Yuki said as she pointed to Tachibana-senpai's table, which remained the only one without any students huddling around it.
"Why are you pushing the idea of us joining the Student Council, Yuki?" I asked.
"Dunno. Felt like it'd be funny if a Class D student made it there," she said as she giggled at her imagination.
But she was right. It would be funny.
"Hey, Chiaki-chan, Kiyotaka, and I will be dropping by the Student Council table. You guys wanna join in?" Yuki invited.
"With how intimidating Horikita-senpai was? I'll be taking a hundred steps away from the student council," Karuizawa replied.
"Ditto!" Sato added.
After exchanging goodbyes, our group was split, the one with me, Yuki, and Chiaki, and the other consisting of Hirata's harem.
"Wait, I'll be checking on the music club first," Chiaki said.
"Fufu, suit yourself then! It gives me more time to spend with Kiyotaka... alone!" Yuki cheered.
"But guess who'll be sleeping in his bed tonight?"
"You!"
I sighed. "Stop antagonizing each other. We're wasting time," I chided the two, who gave sheepish apologies.
And so, the initial group of eight was reduced to two as Chiaki made her way to the table of the music club.
I remained in my position for a while until Yuki dragged me by my arm... what a drag. Great pun, right?
Soon, we made our way to the reception table designated for the Student Council, where we were met by the smiling and surprisingly mature aura of Tachibana-senpai.
"Hello! Are the three of you interested in joining the student council?" She asked.
Three?
As I turned around, I felt like I saw my life flash before my eyes.
Not really, but the sentiment still stood... as I was in close proximity to someone I vowed to avoid upon spotting her person.
A potential Yandere.
I hate my luck sometimes.
The pink-haired girl showed me a bright smile as she noticed my gaze. "Hello there! My name is Ichinose Honami from 1-B. What's yours?"
A rather normal introduction, with zero hints of a potential murderer from her words. Was I wrong to judge her by her hair color?
"Ayanokōji Kiyotaka. 1-D," I introduced myself but kept it brief. I'd rather not get her attention.
"Cool! I haven't met anyone else from 1-D aside from Kushida-san, you know? Do you want to be friends?"
Whoa... slow down, woman.
"My, my, aren't you a little too forward?" Yuki made her presence known, finally noticing that I was face-to-face with a pink-haired demon with high-level social aptitude.
To her credit, Ichinose wasn't intimidated by Yuki, opting to smile at her. "Was I? I was simply introducing myself to Ayanokōji-kun. May I ask for your name?"
She cooly deflected Yuki's accusations... I'm surprised. This had never happened before.
"Tsubaki Yuki, also from 1-D. What's your name? I apologize. I haven't really noticed your introduction earlier," Yuki spoke in an apologetic tone, but I knew there was a hint of venom to her words.
As expected from the queen of passive-aggressiveness.
"Nice to meet you, Tsubaki-san! I'm Ichinose Honami from 1-B," Ichinose then extended her right hand to Yuki, who reciprocated her action and shook her hand.
Hey, why didn't you shake my hand earlier, Ichinose? I demand equal treatment.
I turned my head to Tachibana-senpai, who I almost forgot was there because of Yuki and Ichinose's stand-off.
She seemed to be a little depressed at being ignored.
"Ah, sorry, Tachibana-senpai. It's the first time Yuki and I saw Ichinose, so the three of us took the chance to introduce ourselves to each other since we came from different classes," I said to Tachibana-senpai, who seemed placated at finally being noticed.
"O-oh, I see. So, are the three of you interested in joining the student council?" She asked once more.
Ichinose nodded her head. "I am interested in being part of the Student Council, Tachibana-senpai. Can I have an application form?"
Tachibana-senpai smiled at Ichinose and gave her a form, which Ichinose received. After that, the purple-haired senior turned her head toward us.
I turned my head to the blonde whirlwind who convinced me to even go here."Are we really doing this, Yuki?"
"Why not?"
I sighed.
If what Horikita-senpai said earlier held true, we probably wouldn't be accepted if we didn't take the application process seriously, so I decided to humor Yuki.
"Can you give us the application form as well, Tachibana-senpai?" I asked.
The purple-haired woman beamed and gave us the forms to fill up.
Scanning the paper, it was very basic. It asked for your personal information, year level, and class, as well as your homeroom adviser. The only oddity in the form is the box located on the back page of the form.
It said:
In a 250-word essay, tell us why you think you deserve to be part of the Student Council. Consider brevity in writing.
I thought of an answer that was the truth but something that Horikita-senpai would probably not accept—an answer he would think to be a joke.
With that, I wrote down my one-sentence answer to the question that was supposed to be answered in 250 words.
On my first day in school, I figured out the S-System.
An answer that sounded amazing but unbelievable.
I passed my form to Tachibana-senpai, who was surprised at the speed I took in finishing the form, having assumed that I had written down an essay in such a short amount of time.
I turned my back against Tachibana-senpai, lest she bothers me by how I answered the application form.
Yuki had an amused look on her face upon seeing I was already finished.
"I don't think it'll end up as how you'd expect it to go, Kiyotaka," she said cryptically, chuckling as she said so.
Ichinose, on the other hand, was earnestly doing her best to craft an acceptable essay.
"Do you even know what I had done?" I curiously asked Yuki.
Yuki shook her head. "Not exactly, but I knew you thought of putting out an answer that Horikita-senpai would see as ridiculous."
It's scary how much Yuki knows about how I act.
"We didn't have to go here if you actually didn't want to apply, you know?" Yuki spoke in an understanding tone.
I patted her on the head, catching her by surprise. "It's been a while since we did things with just the two of us, Yuki. Yesterday... and today. It's fun, so don't worry about it," I replied.
Yuki flustered and turned away.
"You're such a stupid idiot sometimes, Kiyotaka," she muttered under her breath.
A couple of seconds later, Yuki finished up with her form and passed it on to Tachibana-senpai. She had a mischievous grin on her face as she made her way back.
"Why are you grinning like that?" I asked.
"Guess what I answered?" She replied with a question.
"What?"
"I answered, 'I'm not a snobbish defect like Horikita-senpai's little sister.' That's definitely going to get his attention," she said proudly.
"Horikita-senpai would have a headache going through our forms," I deadpanned.
Yuki nodded her head. "I wonder if they'll call us in for an interview. It'll be fun to see senpai's face once he sees us," she giggled.
"You're a menace, Yuki," I replied.
"And you love me for it," she cheekily retorted.
"No, I don't. I'd rather live a peaceful life without you."
"That's mean."
"That's the point."
"You owe me food for hurting my feelings."
"If you could withstand Chiaki's words, you'd survive my mild insults."
"That's different!"
"How?"
Our stand-off was interrupted when we heard a giggle from our right.
"Sorry for eavesdropping, but you guys have such a cute friendship!" Ichinose said.
"Don't you have a form to pass?" Yuki asked in veiled irritation.
Ichinose giggled. "I just did. You two bickered for quite some time, you know?"
Upon looking at the papers on Tachibana-senpai's table, there were now three papers passed on to her.
It seems like we did argue for a couple of minutes.
"Time truly passes by when you're having fun," Yuki replied as if she were a sentimental old man.
"You say the strangest things, Tsubaki-san. Say, do you want to exchange contact information? The three of us might be working together in the Student Council, you know?"
I'm amazed at Ichinose's social aptitude. She seemed to be the only person unperturbed by Yuki's pressure for some reason.
That said, she had a rather problematic request.
If she does turn out to be a yandere, I'd rather not have her getting my number.
Seeing Yuki and Ichinose talk to each other and presumably exchange contact information, I stealthily made my escape.
I will reward you for your sacrifice, Yuki!
"Where do you think you're going, Kiyotaka? Were you planning to ditch me?"
Crap.
"I was just planning to check out the music club," I replied.
Yuki had a blank look on her face. "Nice try. The music club is that way," Yuki pointed to her right, the complete opposite of where I wanted to go.
"Am I making you uncomfortable, Ayanokōji-kun?" Ichinose worriedly asked. The pink-haired girl had a sad look on her face as she assumed the worst.
"Ah, not at all, Ichinose."
I couldn't even tell her the truth because she seemed like she'd be sad if I said yes.
Ichinose beamed upon hearing my reply and clapped her hands. "Really? That makes me glad!"
Yuki, upon noticing my odd body language when it came to Ichinose, whispered in my ear. "Is this about the Yandere stuff you ranted to Eiichiro about?"
I nodded my head.
Yuki laughed at my expense.
What a cruel woman.
"She doesn't look like she would hurt a fly. You'll be fine. Just don't develop feelings for her, or I'll make you witness how Yanderes act," Yuki warned me.
That does comfort me at all, Yuki.
Ichinose, unaware of the content of our huddle, stared at us in confusion.
"Ah, do you want to exchange contact information with me, Ichinose?"
The pink-haired girl smiled and nodded. "If you're comfortable with it, I'd be happy to," she replied.
Do girls know the power of their smiles?
I took out my phone and exchanged contact information with Ichinose. After doing so, the pink-haired girl waved us goodbye and asked us to message her if we wanted to hang out with her sometime.
Yuki couldn't even protest, given Ichinose had extended the offer to both of us. She even asked Yuki if they could hang out and have a girl talk because she liked Yuki's energy.
It was... really wholesome.
I sighed as I accepted my defeat for today.
Pink-haired girls, when not in their yandere habitat, are terrifyingly nice, it would seem.
I couldn't even do anything... hell, not even Yuki could do a thing.
"Yuki-chan, Kiyotaka-kun, both of you seemed... stunned. What happened?"
Yuki and I turned our heads to Chiaki, who had an awkward smile on her face as she took in the state Ichinose left us in.
"We just met a girl who had the vibe of a shonen protagonist," I replied.
Chiaki giggled. "I understand how that stunned Yuki, but why do you seem worse off?"
"She had pink hair."
"Really?"
"Really."
Chiaki shook her head in amusement. "Anyways, I got you two application forms for the music club. It's better for you to pass it another day because there are seriously a lot of people lining up there," she pointed to where she was earlier, and indeed, a lot of people were lining up.
"Thanks, Chiaki."
"Uh... yeah, Thanks, Chiaki-chan!"
Welcome back to the land of the living, Yuki.
End of Chapter
A/N: I couldn't resist my hands, and well... this chapter was made.
It takes a more light-hearted tone because the past two chapters have been kinda serious, and we need some air.
Ichinose had finally made her official debut in the story! Honami simps, celebrate!
That being said, Kiyo needs to learn to properly place his fear. I'd be more afraid of Yuki than Ichinose, but our boy here is blinded by the pink-haired yandere trope.
All jokes aside, Kiyo isn't going to avoid Ichinose like the plague because he, more or less, realizes that she's harmless. And as was said two chapters ago, he hopes everyone blames Eiichiro for his prejudice against pink-haired people... and not me.
I also deviated from the canon club fair scene because Kiyo's definitely not going to go with Horikita for this one. How do you all like stereotypical 'Asian kid forced to learn the Piano' Mii-chan?