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 7 - All According to Plan
Third Person POV
The sun had already set, and the sky outside the Student Council office was now painted with an orange hue. Inside, the room was dimly lit, with only a desk lamp and the light from the window illuminating the space. Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President of ANHS, sat behind his desk, with his trusted secretary, Tachibana Akane, standing beside him.
"We will be closing the applications for the Student Council now, Tachibana. It had already been three weeks, so anyone who would even apply at this point is not deserving to be part of the Student Council. That being said, how many applicants are there?" Manabu asked, his tone cold and business-like.
Tachibana turned her head to Manabu, her petite frame barely visible in the dimly lit room. "There were seven applicants, Horikita-kun. Four from the first years and three from the second years," she replied.
"Is that so?" Manabu closed his eyes for a second before continuing. "Reject all the second years. If there were anyone else worthy from that batch, I would have recruited them myself already. Tell me about the first years," Manabu requested, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"There is one applicant each from Class A and B...and..." Tachibana's eyes widened as she paused in the middle of her sentence.
Manabu raised an eyebrow, sensing that something was off.
"With these answers... I still can't believe it," Tachibana thought to herself as her eyes scanned two specific papers.
The petite girl coughed. "The last two applicants were from Class D," she finished.
"Class D?" Manabu repeated, surprised by the revelation.
Tachibana nodded her head. "Indeed, Horikita-kun. But... they're quite odd for Class D students," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"What are their names?" Manabu asked, intrigued.
"Ayanokōji Kiyotaka and Tsubaki Yuki," Tachibana replied.
Manabu's expression remained impassive, but his mind was already working. Class D students, throughout the history of the school, were not known for their academic achievements or involvement in extracurricular activities, let alone Student Council positions. In fact, in the history of ANHS, there hadn't been any applicant hailing from Class D before. Manabu had never heard of these two students before, but Tachibana's reaction to their application had piqued his interest.
"What's so odd about them, Tachibana?"
"Their answers on the essay part of our application form. It seemed like they were making a mockery out of their application, but when you looked deeper, you could tell they were sending a message... Tsubaki, in particular, had..." Tachibana sighed before continuing. "A rather provocative answer," she finished.
Manabu raised an eyebrow.
"I believe it'd be best if you read them yourself, Horikita-kun," Tachibana suggested and then handed two pieces of paper to Manabu, who took them.
Manabu read through the papers with great interest. A one-sentence answer to an essay is absurd, but Manabu found the answers interesting... perhaps even more interesting than any 250-word essay any student of the school could produce. The answers were certainly unconventional, but they showed a level of intelligence and insight that he hadn't expected from students in Class D.
"These two... have figured it out this early. Impressive," Manabu thought to himself, unknowingly letting out a small smile on his face, having discovered interesting answers from the two.
As he finished discerning, he looked up at Tachibana with a thoughtful expression. "These answers are... impressive, to say the least," he said slowly. "It seems that these two students have a deeper understanding of the school's power structure than probably all students in their year level at this moment in time, but Tsubaki, in particular, had a roundabout way of doing so."
'I'm not a snobbish defect like Horikita-senpai's little sister.'
"To think Suzune would bring me shame this early. I had definitely been wrong on how I approached her growth," Manabu sighed at the thought of his little sister, who Tsubaki Yuki used as provocative bait to disguise her awareness of the existing class hierarchy in ANHS.
Tachibana tilted her head. "You... weren't bothered by her words, Horikita-kun?" The purple-haired girl asked.
"Regardless of the tonality of her answer, Tsubaki Yuki had proven that she was aware of the standing of her class and was most likely aware of the class hierarchy. But perhaps... it was influenced by Ayanokōji Kiyotaka," Manabu answered, thinking of the answer Ayanokōji Kiyotaka provided.
'On my first day in school, I figured out the S-System.'
Tachibana nodded. "That's a good guess, Horikita-kun. When they approached me during the Club Fair, it did indeed look like Ayanokōji-kun was the leader between the two of them. For some reason, he did not feel like what you'd expect from a Class D student. I believe he'd be a good addition to the Student Council," she said.
'He didn't ignore me back there, after all. What a considerate kohai,' Tachibana thought to herself as she remembered being ignored while Tsubaki and another student named Ichinose Honami were exchanging words.
"How about the other two applicants? What are your initial observation of them?" Manabu asked.
"They have potential, but I do not think they're as ready as Ayanokōji-kun and Tsubaki-san," Tachibana replied before handing over two papers to Manabu.
Manabu nodded at Tachibana as he received the papers and began reading through them.
"Katsuragi Kōhei and Ichinose Honami, huh? There's potential to them... but I don't think they're ready for what they're going to face if they manage to get into the Student Council but...," Manabut thought to himself.
"We'll reject Katsuragi," Manabu declared without any hint of hesitation.
Tachibana looked at Manabu for a few seconds before she spoke. "It's because of Nagumo, isn't it?"
Manabu nodded, a grim look on his face as the thought of his Vice President, Nagumo Miyabi, entered his mind. Nagumo was a person whose ideals were the exact opposite of his own views, with the Vice President believing in "true meritocracy," where only the best would be able to survive—views that Manabu personally rejects.
"Indeed. Unlike the two from Class D, Katsuragi would be a bad fit for the Student Council as it is now. The same goes for Ichinose, but I think it would be unwise to write her off that easily, considering she had managed to unite Class B, something Katsuragi failed to do with Class A. That said, we'll interview only Ayanokōji, Ichinose, and Tsubaki. Schedule a meeting with them by the end of the week, Tachibana," Manabu said, turning his head to Tachibana.
Tachibana bowed respectfully. "Understood, Horikita-kun. I'll make the necessary arrangements," she said before leaving the room.
As Tachibana left the room, Manabu sat there, lost in thought. "I do wonder what Suzune did to Tsubaki to piss her off. Snobbish defect, huh?" he mused to himself.
His little sister definitely had some growing to do.
7.1
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
After swimming class about two weeks ago, Sudo, Hirata, and I had a fun boys-only hangout where we talked about all sorts of stuff, from sports to our hobbies... and to girls. As the three of us separated, Hirata insisted on going with me for reasons not known to me at the time.
Once we reached a rather quiet area, the dirty-blonde-haired boy suddenly stopped and began to gather his breaths. I was a little worried because I thought he was going to confess to me. Thankfully, that was not the case.
As Hirata finally gathered himself, he asked me if I could give him advice.
Apparently, Karuizawa approached him and told him a personal secret, to which the blonde-haired girl asked him for a favor: for Hirata to act as her boyfriend to protect her.
Hirata thought it was not a good idea, and while normally, I would agree, I held my tongue and asked if it was possible for me to meet Karuizawa and hear what she had been thinking.
Long story short, Karuizawa, who initially hesitated, let me into their secret. Karuizawa, a girl noted by the class as strong-willed and brash, used to be bullied in Junior High, which manifested physical, mental, and emotional scars on her. To prevent a similar case from happening to her in High School, she asked if Hirata, one of the two popular boys in the class, would agree to pretend to be her boyfriend.
It's honestly a rather childish idea, but considering the psychology of people our age, it would work in the short term.
So, I told Hirata that Karuizawa's proposal has some merits to them, at least from the standpoint of her anxiety and the short-term gains. At the same time, I imposed certain conditions for Karuizawa to fulfill so that Hirata wouldn't have to deal with the setup for three whole years.
These were the conditions:
[1] Karuizawa would need to grow herself while cocooned inside Hirata's influence.
[2] Karuizawa would have to develop self-sufficiency so that when the time comes that they'll have to 'break up,' she can stand on her own.
The reason is simple: if she remained leeching off Hirata and not growing on her own, she might even incur damage worse than what she had endured during her Junior High years.
Besides, even strong armor can only stand up for so long. Eventually, it'll weaken and leave you open for attacks. Karuizawa would need to develop herself so she can eventually face her own demons and move past them.
Haaah... well, I suppose I should now do my part in helping them out.
I took out my phone from my pocket and contacted Yuki.
[19:59:40] Yuki, were you able to take a picture of Hirata and Karuizawa earlier?
[19:59:44 Yuki] Of course! Who do you think you are talking to? Hmph!
I sighed at the passive-aggressive tone of her text. She really did not seem happy after noticing Horikita acting more bashful toward me over the past two weeks or so.
I kinda regret teasing her that much during swim class, all things considered... but since it's Horikita, I realized that I actually regret nothing.
[19:59:55] Good job, Yuki. Send it to our group chat in a while.
[20:00:02 Yuki] That makes me curious, Kiyotaka. Why did you even want me to take a picture of them?
[20:00:10] Well, Hirata's constantly teasing me about being a Harem Emperor.
[20:00:16 Yuki] That was annoying. He even had the gall to say Horikita's your newest lover! The nerve on him!
We're on the same boat on that, Yuki, trust me.
[20:00:23] You want to get back at him for insinuating Horikita's part of it, right?
[20:00:28 Yuki] Naturally. Also, you are not allowed to have a harem. I'm the only girl for you ( っ ˘ з ( ˘ ⌣ ˘ )
There's the Yuki I know.
[20:00:40 Yuki] Anyways, you're planning on teasing him back in a group chat with a bunch of his fan girls in it, right? I love how you think!
[20:00:43] That's the plan
[20:00:46 Yuki] Let's do it!
It did not take long for my phone to beep again, but this time, the message was directed to our friend group's group chat which had Yuki, myself, Chiaki, Hirata, Karuizawa, Sato, Mori, Wang, and Sudo in it.
Yuki sure does work fast.
[20:01:06 Yuki] I think some people have some explaining to do 😏
[20:01:12 Chiaki] The two of them have definitely been getting along more for quite some time now. Is there something you aren't telling us? Hirata-kun? Karuizawa-san?
[20:01:13 Maya] You work really quick, Karuizawa-san!
[20:01:14 Mii-chan] Hey, why is my face cut from the photo? :((
[20:01:17 Chiaki] Also, bad Yuki-chan for cutting Mii-chan's face off!
[20:01:17 Yuki] Sorry, Mii-chan! :PP
[20:01:17 Yosuke] Kei looks really cute there, doesn't she?
[20:01:19] Kei, was it?
[20:01:20 Yuki] First name already?!
[20:01:22 Nene] I think I have a good guess! I'm a little jealous of you, Karuizawa-san.
[20:01:25 Yosuke] Haha, we can't keep it a secret any longer, can we? Kei and I are a couple now.
[20:01:30 Maya] Oh my gosh, Karuizawa-san finally confessed? This is amazing news!
[20:01:32 Chiaki] How bold of you, Karuizawa-san! Congratulations to both of you!
[20:01:35 Kei] Ah mou~! Why did you guys assume I was the one who confessed
[20:01:39] Because Hirata probably doesn't even know how to confess
[20:01:43 Chiaki] That was mean, Kiyotaka-kun... but also kinda true!
[20:01:55 Yosuke] Hey, now. I've never had to confess before, so cut me some slack. I was planning to confess to Kei for a while, but I didn't know how. I was lucky she felt the same and took the initiative.
[20:02:00 Maya] KYAAAA~! The first couple in Class D! This must be celebrated, you hear me?
[20:02:03 Chiaki] That's right!
[20:02:07 Nene] You better take good care of Hirata-kun, or I'll steal him right under your nose, Karuizawa-san!
As soon as the group chat conversation started, I stayed quiet and observed how it unfolded. It was interesting to see how everyone had something to say about the picture, from those who noticed the details, those who were curious about the relationship between Hirata and Karuizawa, and the mini-celebration that followed upon Hirata's reveal that he was now dating Karuizawa.
I wonder if the two would be able to make it work. I've already provided them with things they have to think about, from the initial prospects of their relationship to potential setbacks and the goals both of them need to fulfill.
I'd say I did my best in guiding them to make their plan work in the ideal sense.
So if the relationship ends up being a waste of time, that's ultimately on them.
Bzzzt
As my phone vibrated, I immediately took it out of my pocket to see a notification: a message from Hirata.
[20:03:00 Hirata Yōsuke] Thanks for your help, Ayanokōji-kun. You can leave the rest to us now.
[20:03:08] No problem. But don't hesitate to talk to me when you need help. Good luck, Hirata.
That being said, Hirata's rather quick acceptance of Karuizawa's favor was quite surprising for me. Even when he initially said he thought it wasn't a good idea, he didn't say he was not going to do it. In fact, from body language alone, I could tell that Hirata was already willing to help out Karuizawa with or without my third-party advice.
It was an admirable, but under the wrong conditions, self-destructive trait. Besides, it's peculiar for people to take up an altruistic mindset out of sheer kindness of heart.
It made me wonder about one thing...
What experiences did you have to go through, Hirata Yōsuke?
7.2
"Kikyō-chan, do you want to stop by a café on our way back today?"
"Sure, let's go! Oh, but wait just a minute, okay? I want to invite one more person."Kushida headed toward Horikita, who was putting her textbook into her bag.
"Horikita-san, would you like to come with us to a café today?" She asked.
This was a scene that had been repeating itself ever since classes began: Kushida invites Horikita for something, and without any semblance of hesitation, Horikita flat-out rejects her. You'd think Kushida would get the signal that Horikita doesn't want to spend time with her, but the beige-haired woman remained persistent... borderline having tunnel vision on getting along with Horikita.
I have my guesses for her behavior, but there have yet to be enough cracks in Kushida's armor for me to decide to act out.
That said, I found myself tired of witnessing the same skit for about three weeks, so I spoke up on Horikita's behalf. "I apologize, Kushida, but I invited Horikita to have lunch with me, and she had already agreed."
"Is that so, Ayanokōji-kun? It's not a date, right?" Kushida had a teasing smile on her face as she said that. "You better not cheat on Yuki-chan!" She playfully chided.
I sighed in exasperation. Somehow, someway, Yuki and Kushida got along to the point they were calling each other by their first name. Perhaps it was a shared hatred of Horikita that bonded them? No, that's not it. Kushida doesn't look like she hates Horikita... she just has a strange fixation on her.
"Yuki and I aren't dating, and do you think this ice queen would even date anyone? I just needed a favor from her," I cooly replied.
Kushida giggled. "Who knows? You're pretty popular, Ayanokōji-kun. It's not impossible for Horikita-san to develop a crush on you," she teased as if Horikita wasn't in hearing range.
Horikita had a steely look in her eyes as she turned her head to Kushida. "Please don't joke about something like that, Kushida-san. I find that extremely rude," she spoke coldly.
"Sorry, Horikita-san! I'm just having fun teasing Ayanokōji-kun here. Anyways, have fun, you two!"
Kushida then ran back to join her friends, and they left the hall.
As the beige-haired girl left, Horikita threw a glare in my direction.
"Don't make my decisions for me, Ayanokōji-kun. I am perfectly capable of handling the situation myself," she said.
"Handle the situation? That's the funniest thing you've said all year, Horikita," I replied.
Horikita's glare intensified. "Are you making light of me?" She asked in an indignant tone.
"All you would have done is make Kushida's friends hate you, Horikita. You may not be a fan of fraternizing with most of the class, but you definitely need to get out of your comfortable bubble and realize you have to play nice once in a while," I replied, not backing down from the girl's intense glare.
"I don't see the point in getting close to people who are just going to disappoint me in the end," Horikita replied with a hint of bitterness in her tone.
"Is that really fair, though? To assume that everyone is going to disappoint you? You might miss out on some great friendships if you keep thinking like that."
"I do not care if I miss out on these 'great friendships,' as you put it. I am perfectly fine as I am now," she said defiantly.
"Be it as it may, but Kushida's not the same with idiots like Ike or Yamauchi. From an outsider's view, your behavior towards her can be seen as illogical, especially when you're not completely closed off from our classmates now," I reasoned.
Horikita sighed. "I... I'm just not comfortable with her," she admitted in a low tone.
I sent a small smile in her direction. "And there we have it. It would have been easier if you had just admitted that from the start, Horikita," I replied.
Still, I should consider Horikita's admittance as a miracle from the skies. I'm more than certain that under normal circumstances, she would not even bother saying anything and continue acting just as how she normally acted.
I think I'm somehow getting to her, given I seem to be the only person in the class to see this side of her.
"It's not like you're not aware of it," she replied.
"I am aware of it, but I just needed to hear it straight from your mouth. Would you like it if I acted based on assumptions?" I asked.
"I won't. I would even hate you for it," she immediately replied.
You're really harsh, Horikita.
"That being said, why did you even intervene?" Horikita asked in a rather demanding tone.
"Two reasons that I'd only share if we would go together for lunch," I replied.
Horikita sighed. "Since you've already told that alibi to Kushida-san, we might as well make it true. But is Tsubaki-san fine with you not going with her for lunch?"
"Yuki is not my girlfriend. She can't choose who I can and can't hang out with."
Horikita raised an eyebrow at my surprisingly aggressive reply. Well... I have to be honest, I was just getting a little tired of everyone mistaking Yuki to be my girlfriend, so I just had to put emphasis on it.
"Are you trying to woo me then?"
What a ridiculous conclusion.
"You'd like that, won't you, Pervert-chan?"
Horikita narrowed her eyes at me, not amused by my teasing.
"I'm sorry, Horikita. I'll drop the pervert jokes... for today."
"I wish I never spoke with you."
"You don't mean that."
Horikita simply glared at me, but I paid it no mind.
In my "Horikita facial expressions guidebook," Glare #69 is a sign that I was right on the money, but she simply didn't want to admit it. It's really cute.
"So, are you still up for lunch?"
Horikita looked at me for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I suppose so. But I hope you're not expecting me to be more sociable than usual."
"Of course not. You can be as unsociable as you like," I said, shaking my head at Horikita's weirdness and turning to head out of the classroom.
Horikita followed me in silence, and we walked to the cafeteria together.
When we reached the cafeteria, we ordered our drinks and meals. We sat down at a small table in the corner and ate in silence, enjoying the delicious treats.
I could see Yuki staring at us from a faraway table, glaring intently at Horikita. She was with Chiaki, who also did not look pleased that I was having lunch with Horikita. Luckily for the dark-haired girl, the two stalkers are good at being incognito for the most part, so she was unable to notice the ill gazes being thrown her way.
After a few minutes, Horikita spoke up. "What are the two reasons why you bothered to intervene? I'd assume it's important since you had deliberately chosen an inconspicuous table that'll spare us from anyone overhearing us."
"Alright, since you're curious, I'll tell you the reasons," I said, taking a sip of my drink before continuing. "First, I couldn't stand watching that scene play out over and over again. It was getting tiresome, and I thought it would be better for everyone if I stepped in."
Horikita raised an eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed. "And the second reason?"
I looked at Horikita for a few moments before deciding to finally speak. "It's time we talk about why you're seemingly unnerved at Kushida's presence. I've been meaning to confront you over it, but I have just never gotten the chance to do so," I paused to take in Horikita's reaction.
She simply pursed her lips, saying nothing in response, which I took as a sign to continue.
"Now that I thought about it, I think the reason why you didn't swap seats with Yuki was because of Kushida. Before you answered Chabashira-sensei, I could see you looking at where Yuki was sitting as well as those seated close to her. Am I right in that assumption?"
Horikita hesitantly nodded her head.
"Then came the third day of class. You reacted when I hinted that I felt something off with Kushida. You even said, "You can tell?" But it was more of a slip-up than an actual question. Those two scenarios lead me to believe that you and Kushida knew each other before ANHS, or at the very least, were aware of some things the other had done. Am I right?" I continued.
"Nothing gets past you, Ayanokōji-kun," Horikita replied as she let out a sigh. "You're right. I knew of Kushida-san before entering this school," she finished.
"Can you share why you're uncomfortable with her? Considering how this school works, I need to evaluate whether Kushida is an asset or a ticking time bomb that we have to neutralize. You understand what's at stake here, right? This school does not value an individual student over another. This school looks at the class as a collective, so if one student acts out, the class might as well get ruined," I said to make Horikita see the bigger picture.
Horikita took a sip out of her drink before facing me once again. "Kushida-san was the same in junior high as she was here in ANHS, but even more popular. However, in our final year, something terrible happened to her class... an event that Kushida-san was directly responsible for," she revealed.
I narrowed my eyes at Horikita's revelation. While Kushida's behavior so far did not suggest that she'd be able to cause that much damage, I do not think Horikita would blatantly lie just to ruin another person's reputation.
"What did she do?" I asked.
"She did something that resulted in a brawl where the boys fought each other, and the girls knocked each other out, turning their class into a mess. I did not know the exact details as I was preparing for the entrance exams, but that was what happened. That's why I'd prefer not to have anything to do with Kushida-san," Horikita answered.
I leaned back in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose before straightening up my posture and looking back at Horikita. "Do you think Kushida's simply pretending to be an incredibly nice girl?" I asked.
Horikita nodded. "I do. That's why I advise you to be careful around her," she replied.
"That might be wise advice, but if I suddenly change how I treat her, it might tick her off that I'm aware of her past, and who knows how she'll react to that? I have a plan in mind that can help us better assess and perhaps even mitigate the potential risk she poses to the class," I revealed.
Horikita raised an eyebrow. "You do? That's rather quick," she replied.
"I planned out ways to uncover the secrets of the S-System without Chabashira-sensei's help while the discussion was still going on. Dealing with a high school girl is child's play," I spoke matter-of-factly.
"It irks me how you can casually say something like that but not come across as arrogant," Horikita muttered before speaking again. "But what's your plan?" She asked.
"I have two plans. The first one will be easy, but the second one...would probably violate your wish, but I will owe you for this. I promise."
Horikita's eyes narrowed. "How so?"
"I need you to be slightly more amiable towards Kushida. But I'm not asking you to be buddy-buddy with her or anything. I simply want you to treat her as how you've treated people like Wang, Chiaki, and others in recent weeks."
After our talk on the third day, Horikita actually made an effort not to be completely distanced from the class. While none of our classmates were her friends, she was rather amiable to them and was willing to talk for a minute or two.
Wang and Chiaki, in particular, were two people who were able to get a couple of non-hostile sentences out of her mouth—a monumental achievement for anyone not named Kiyotaka.
"How exactly am I going to do that?"
She's like a child that's asking for guidance... it's cute. But at the same time, I felt the urge to blame Horikita Manabu for her social ineptitude.
"Just don't be blatantly hostile to her, and if she asks for your contact info, just give it in the pretense of you realizing it'd be beneficial to be able to contact a classmate if ever you manage to get grouped up for a project or something. Something like that, Horikita. You can establish boundaries without looking hostile, just saying," I answered.
Horikita's face told me she did not really like the idea of having to respond to Kushida's advances, but I could tell she'd eventually relent as she finished gathering her thoughts.
"Yes. But that being said, Ayanokōji-kun..." Horikita looked away, and for a moment, I thought I saw a hint of vulnerability in her eyes.
"I'm not used to people interfering in my life like this," she said quietly. "It's unnerving."
"I can understand that," I acknowledged. "But sometimes, it's the people who challenge us the most who end up helping us grow. I don't want to overstep my boundaries, but I do believe that you might benefit from stepping even further from your comfort zone. You're not completely hopeless, Horikita."
Horikita's eyes met mine, and I could see her resolve hardening. "I'll give it a try... being more tolerable of Kushida-san's presence, but you better keep your promise to help me, especially if things go south."
"I will, Horikita. You have my word," I replied, giving her a reassuring smile.
"However... don't expect me to adjust right away, Ayanokōji-kun."
"What matters is that you're planning to try and step outside your comfort zone, Horikita. I'm not expecting you to change right away, but I'm expecting you to work on yourself," I replied, subtly noting the pleased expression she had on her face.
That being said, you should consider yourself lucky that I see potential in you, Horikita because that's the only reason I found myself compelled to help you out and facilitate your progress in the meantime.
However, once you fail to live up to my expectations, I won't hesitate to cut my losses and move on.
After all, I only give second chances to people who matter to me.
But who knows... maybe you'll surprise me and end up being someone I value. For now, all I can promise is that I'll be watching closely.
7.3
Classes had ended. The other students left for their various after-school activities, talking to one another about where they would go. As for me, I had to abide by my mandatory "punishment" of having to accompany Yuki and Chiaki, as they both got jealous that Horikita was the first girl to have a one-on-one lunch with me.
The two "love rivals" got together, and as "mandated" by the "Council of Kiyotaka Lovers," I would have to accompany them for the rest of the day.
It was ridiculous, but I was not saying no to hanging out with two beautiful girls, as annoying as they both can be.
As we exited the classroom, I almost immediately felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Kushida, and she had an all-too-familiar smile on her face.
"Hey, Ayanokōji-kun, do you have a minute? I wanted to talk to you about something," Kushida said.
"Sure, what's up?" I asked, my tone neutral.
"Ah, but before that! Yuki-chan, Matsushita-san, do you mind if I borrow Ayanokōji-kun here for a while?" she asked as she turned her head at Yuki and Chiaki, sending them both a smile.
How polite of you, Kushida.
"Well, if it's you, Kikyō-chan, I wouldn't mind," Yuki replied, returning Kushida's smile.
Chiaki did not share Yuki's enthusiasm, but she eventually agreed as well.
I gave Kushida a curt nod, silently signaling for her to proceed with whatever it was she wanted to discuss. I had an idea of what it might be about, but I kept my thoughts to myself, listening intently to what Kushida had to say.
"Thank you, Yuki-chan, Matsushita-san," Kushida said, turning her attention back to me. "So, Ayanokōji-kun, I was hoping I could talk to you about something that's been on my mind for a while."
"And what might that be?" I asked, my tone still neutral.
"I was hoping you could help me out with something," Kushida said, her smile faltering slightly.
I raised an eyebrow, surprised at Kushida's directness. "Help you out? With what, exactly?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
"Well, since you're the only person in class who Horikita-san likes talking to, I was hoping you could help me get closer to her," Kushida said, her smile returning in full force.
I had expected as much. Kushida had been persistent in getting along with Horikita since classes had begun and had not wavered despite the constant rejections. Now that she saw visible proof that Horikita might actually have a friend—a fact manifested by her knowledge that Horikita agreed to have lunch with me—the beige-haired girl approached me.
I did not expect her to be so direct about it, though.
I raised an eyebrow. "Get closer? What do you mean by that?"
"I want to be friends with her," she explained, "but I don't think she likes me very much. I was hoping you could talk to her and put in a good word for me."
"I'm not sure about that, Kushida. Horikita and I have our own relationship, and I don't think it would be right for me to interfere with her personal feelings," I said, trying to remain neutral.
"So that means...you can't?"
Cute + Pleading + Upturned Eyes + Boobs = Lethal... is what I'd say if I had the same IQ as Ike and Yamauchi... or pretending to be one.
Fortunately, Yuki and Chiaki had done more than enough to make me more resistant to them.
"I'm not saying I can't, but rather, it's not up to me for the two of you to eventually become friends. That's on you to make Horikita see that you genuinely want to get along with her. The girl has some issues, which I'm sure you've noticed by now," I replied, cooly deflecting Kushida's attempt at convincing me.
Kushida's smile faltered, and I could sense her disappointment at my response. But I didn't let my guard down just yet.
"But," I continued, "I can give you some advice on how to approach Horikita. Just be genuine and show her that you're interested in getting to know her as a person. Don't try to force a friendship because, as you've seen in the last couple of weeks, that really didn't turn out well for you."
"I understand, Ayanokōji-kun, but can you help set us up for lunch or something?" Kushida asked with pleading eyes.
I could feel the pressure of Yuki and Chiaki's expectant gazes on me. Despite my suspicions about Kushida's true motives, I couldn't just outright refuse her request without making it seem suspicious. I needed to play along to keep my cover and gather more information.
I let out a sigh, pretending to think for a moment. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea. It might put Horikita on the spot, and I don't think that's fair to her," I paused and looked at Kushida to evaluate her reaction.
The beige-haired girl looked a little downtrodden, seemingly disappointed at my rejection.
"But I know you genuinely want to befriend Horikita, so I'll help you out in some way. How about this? I'll see if I can come up with an opportunity for the two of you to interact, but it's up to you to make the most out of that situation," I suggested, effectively crafting the image of a person who's willing to help, but also not willing to compromise another person's comfort. In a way, it's a presentation that's a little similar to Hirata and Kushida herself.
Kushida's face lit up at my response, and I could tell that she was relieved that I had agreed to help her in some way. "Thank you, Ayanokōji-kun. I really appreciate it," she said, giving me a small bow.
"Anything for a friend, right?" I replied, earning a smile from Kushida, who happily nodded.
While on the surface, it may appear that I was simply trying to help her befriend Horikita, my true intention was to evaluate Kushida's true motives and determine if she posed a threat to the class.
Ever since the first week of class, I found myself suspicious of Kushida and her act. While normally, her persistence in befriending Horikita wouldn't look out of character since Kushida had presented herself as someone who "wants to befriend everyone," someone like me could immediately tell that her fixation on befriending Horikita was unhealthy and unnatural.
That's why I needed to figure out Kushida's game before the worst could even happen.
To do that, I orchestrated a scenario where the beige-haired girl would be compelled to approach me on her own accord, which was manifested by the scene earlier during lunchtime where Kushida had the conclusion that I am closer to Horikita than she initially thought and thus, would be able to help her achieve her goals.
My plan is not just focused on Kushida, as it also serves as a test to Horikita. This entire scheme was designed for me to see just how useful Horikita Suzune was and if she was someone who I would be happy to have around me.
While I've become more human, my principles remain unchanged—I refuse to waste my time with those who offer me nothing of worth.
7.4
As we parted ways with Kushida, Yuki tugged at my sleeve, her voice laced with jealousy. "Why were you looking at Kikyō-chan's boobs earlier?"
That's... your concern?
"I was not staring at her boobs. She just happened to lean down. Was I supposed to turn away?"
Yuki pouted, arms folded. "Well, you shouldn't be looking at other girls like that. You should only be looking at me," she said, trying to sound cute but failing to hide her possessiveness.
"This is why you should have been confined in a mental institution, Yuki-chan. Kiyotaka-kun's free to look at boobs. Well... as long as the one he'll be thinking about before sleeping is my boobs," Chiaki chimed in, giggling as she steadily got lost in her imagination.
Sometimes, having two beautiful girls in love with you can be a pain in the ass.
I let out a snort, amused at Chiaki's comment. "You say the weirdest things, Chiaki."
Yuki huffed, clearly not amused. "I'm serious, Kiyotaka-kun. You need to be more considerate of my feelings."
"I'm treating you like how someone would treat a good friend. I'd say I'm pretty considerate of your feelings."
"You literally kissed both of us. The three of us are definitely more than friends," Chiaki argued.
"I did, but that doesn't mean I'm in a relationship with both of you," I replied.
"Three of us? As I said before, I'm not sharing!" Yuki, on the other hand, did not mind the insinuation, but a specific part of Chiaki's wording bothered her.
Chiaki giggled. "You're so greedy, Yuki-chan."
I couldn't help but feel a little exasperated at their constant bickering, but at the same time, it was amusing to watch. "Can we all just relax and enjoy hanging out together?" I suggested, hoping to diffuse the tension.
Yuki and Chiaki looked at each other for a moment before Yuki finally spoke up. "Fine. As long as you promise not to look at other girls like that. Chiaki-chan... is fine, but the other girls, definitely not," she said, her tone still possessive.
"You're fine with Chiaki?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well... it's just looking, right? Besides... you've done things with her, too, so it's only natural you'd look at her that way. Don't forget that you're mine, though!" Yuki exclaimed before turning her head away from me.
Can a Yandere also become a Tsundere? I'm a little confused.
"Ara ara~! I'm surprised you're this considerate, Yuki-chan! Is little Miss Yandere growing up?" Chiaki teased her.
Yuki's face turned red with embarrassment and anger. "I'm not a yandere! Besides, Kiyotaka's scared of them, so why would I be one?" she protested, her voice rising.
Where did you even get that from? I'm not scared of Yanderes in general. Murdery, pink-haired Yanderes are the ones that I'm spooked by. Good thing Ichinose seemed relatively normal... except for those two things.
They're unnaturally large.
Chiaki just chuckled, seemingly enjoying Yuki's reaction. "Okay, okay, calm down. I was just joking," she said, trying to placate her.
I let out a small chuckle, amused at the exchange between the two girls. "You two are a handful."
But that being said...
I wouldn't have them any other way.
Well, I'd prefer if they were a little healthier on the head, but I'll accept them either way.
End of Chapter
A/N: A shorter chapter than usual, but I think it hits the note of being an okay transition chapter.
We went the usual Kei/Hirata early volume route, but I added another layer to it by making Kiyo somehow force Kei not to become a parasite and condition her to develop while being shielded by Hirata's popularity in the meantime.
The major plot point in this chapter is Kiyo's decision to finally do something about Kikyo and Suzune. While Kiyo was already suspicious of Kikyo, he elected to observe how the girl would act and has now decided he has had enough of it and finally do something about it.
Kiyo wants to see if Kushida's an ally or a ticking time bomb he has to neutralize. At the same time, he's also using the Kushida sub-plot to see if Suzune is worth his time or if he's better off not caring about her.
I think you guys can see that Kiyo's subtly manipulative in this chapter, but his reasons for doing so aren't exactly nefarious... it's just the only way he knew to do what he wanted to achieve.
That said, I hope you guys can also see Suzune's slow but steady growth over the last three weeks. While I'm definitely never going to make her nice to everyone, she's going to be more amiable to people with a level of vulnerability that only Kiyo was able to catch a glimpse of.
I mean... imagine being a girl who had forcefully isolated herself in a desperate attempt to emulate her brother, and there's this guy who you think is someone that's somehow above you... and pretty much promotes the idea of individuality, which he's unknowingly presenting to you. I'd say a person like that existing and being around you... would be a little unnerving.
Anyways, chapter 8 will feature the Student Council interviews for Yuki, Kiyo, and Honami... and Honami will be getting a little spotlight, so look forward to that.