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 9 - Reality Check
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
The day after the Student Council interviews, life went by as usual. Classes, boring discussions, and the occasional Horikita teasing—just part of my routine and eventful High School life.
Before I could drown myself further in my thoughts, Chabashira-sensei walked into the classroom carrying a stack of papers.
It seems like one of my predictions ended up being right again.
After the rather easy-going first month in ANHS, the school would be making sure to remind its students that it was not all fun and games in this treacherous institution, and their way of doing so is through a written assessment that ought to give us a reality check of some sort.
"Good morning, class. Today, we're going to have a short test. Please pass these papers to the back," Chabashira-sensei spoke straight to business.
Due to how we've conditioned the class, there weren't any harsh reactions, even from students like Yamauchi and Ike. However, I could tell from the faces of some of our classmates that they were a little anxious about the unannounced test.
"You called it," Horikita said, remembering what I told her a couple of days ago when the dark-haired girl voiced out her concern about how the school was surprisingly lax considering the stakes that we had presented during the second day of class.
"It's just common sense, Horikita. Lulling the ignorant students into a false sense of security is one way to shock them when the stakes are suddenly raised," I replied.
Horikita sighed. "Which might as well be as our class if you, Tsubaki-san, and Hirata-kun didn't do something," she said.
I found myself amused at her words.
After all, Horikita hit the mark with those words. If we didn't help out the class early on, there is no doubt that most of Class D would be fooled into thinking that this school is simply generous and giving, and who knows? We might even run out of class points.
And I'd rather not live in poverty.
"None of you reacted, huh? You kids sure do look like proper students now," Chabashira-sensei mused, an amused expression making its way to her face. "I suppose that's to be expected. Ayanokōji did a wonderful job in setting all of you straight, after all."
"That being said, this test won't be directly reflected in your report cards. But of course, as you might have already thought, this isn't your normal refresher test," Chabashira-sensei paused, taking in the reaction of the class. "That's all that I have to say about this matter. Now, once all of you have received the paper, you may start answering the test. Of course, cheating is prohibited, so keep that in mind," she finished.
As soon as I received my test papers, I immediately scanned the questions. There were twenty questions in total, with it being evenly spread out over five subjects. That being said, I noticed how the questions were extraordinarily easy, to the point where it was almost a letdown. In fact, the questions seemed to be about two levels less difficult than the ones on the entrance examination.
Surely, there has to be a twist...
And upon reaching the end of the test, my suspicions ended up being right. There were three questions on the final pages that were too difficult for any students in our year. The final math problem, in particular, couldn't be solved without complex formulae. In the eyes of a normal onlooker, it would look like they were put on the test by mistake. But I know better-this was intentional.
I glanced around the room and noticed the looks of confusion and frustration on my classmates' faces.
"No way. These questions are seriously way too hard," I heard one of my classmates say.
Well, normally, it is. But considering my academic abilities, these questions aren't even a challenge. That said, I began answering the test and finished within fifteen minutes.
That's believable enough, right?
With that, I decided to simply stare at my desk until the test was over.
9.1
The class finished the test before the time was up, prompting Chabashira-sensei to urge those who had already finished to turn in their papers. With that, the test ended around ten minutes before the bell rang.
"Congratulations on finishing the test, Class D. The next period is free, but I encourage you to use your time wisely. After all, this is just the start of what ANHS has to offer. Goodbye and good luck," Chabashira-sensei said in her default detached tone before exiting the classroom with a stack of papers in tow.
Seeing as we roughly had about 70 minutes to ourselves, I immediately headed to the front of the classroom, stopping at the teacher's podium.
Upon my cue, Hirata and Yuki followed suit, both of them standing on my left and right side, respectively. The class did not react much to our actions, having grown accustomed to the three of us making announcements or reminders for the class.
"Quite the test, wasn't it?" I rhetorically asked, opening up the discussion.
"I'd say! The test started off rather easy-easier than the entrance exams-but the last three questions were too hard. I don't think those questions were even covered by the first-year curriculum," Kushida spoke up, earning grunts of agreement and nods from most of the class.
"And you'd be right about that, Kikyō-chan," Yuki replied with a smile on her face. "The last three questions are above an average first-year student's level of understanding. Of course, the easy assumption to make is that they were put there by mistake, but I personally believe that it was intentional, and there's a bigger purpose to it," she finished.
"A bigger purpose? What do you mean by that, Tsubaki-san?" Yuki's bespectacled seatmate, Yukimura, asked.
"Simply put, the school has a message that they wanted the students to decipher. But that's beside the point for now. We'll be addressing that problem in due time," Yuki answered.
Hirata turned his head to me, a confused look on his face. "What does she mean, Ayanokōji-kun?" He whispered.
"That the game has officially begun," I answered cryptically, a wry smile making its way on my face.
If my guess was right, and it probably was, the last three questions were on the second and third-year student's tests, and the fact that those questions found their way on a first-year test was an indicator that this test was not intended to measure our academic abilities but to measure our ability to look underneath the underneath.
I dislike the Naruto series with all my heart, but I do have to admit that was a good line. Kakashi was the saving grace of that series.
"What would be the next move for the class then, Yuki-chan?" Kushida asked, a concerned expression on her face.
Yuki turned her head in my direction, a signal that she wanted me to answer Kushida's question.
"While we have the advantage of being aware of the S-System, it doesn't mean that we are immediately better than the other classes. In fact, our placement in Class D would generally indicate that we're inferior to the other classes in terms of academics. But as you can clearly see, there are a couple of academically competent students in the class, and with that, we have a proposal," I paused, taking in the reaction of the class.
Thankfully, none of them took offense to my observation of their academic abilities. Most of them have accepted that they struggle on that end and were more than willing to listen to what we have to say.
That said, the collective anxiety of the class over the surprise quiz provided me with an opportunity to bring the class together while, at the same time, improving their abilities.
"I'm proposing the formation of study groups within the class. But we'll be waiting until the test scores have been revealed to select who'd be tasked with leading a study group. That would probably be more efficient in helping the class prepare for the midterm exams," I finished.
Hirata then decided that it was time to speak up. "Is that fine with everyone in the class?" He asked.
Almost instantly, the star actress of the class, Karuizawa, reacted in affirmation.
"Yeah! I think that would be for the best, Yōsuke-kun. Personally, I struggled so much on some parts of the tests. Don't even get me started on the last three questions-they were super hard! I think a study group would help out the class tons!" Karuizawa's perfect facial expressions probably sold some people in the class on the urgency of forming study groups.
Good job, Karuizawa!
"Yeah, man, I agree! A study group would definitely help me get better in academics. As ashamed as I am to admit this... I'm kinda dumb. And I don't want to stay like one forever, so I'll take all the help I can get," Sudo added, rubbing the back of his head at his own admittance of his academic ineptitude.
I smiled proudly at the redhead, who was one of my few male friends in the class. While he was still rough around the edges, the basketball player was developing quite nicely in terms of mentality. All it took was using basketball as an analogy to keep him in line.
I swear, athletes can be simple-minded sometimes. Not that I'm complaining, mind you.
After Karuizawa and Sudo's open support of the proposal, some of the less-vocal members of the class began murmuring their opinions, echoing their agreement with the sentiments.
Yuki found herself amused at the scenario. She probably found it funny how easy it was to control Class D, and knowing the blonde-haired girl, she's most likely formulating ideas to further sink it in. Seriously, when she's not being her obsessed and possessive self, Yuki's quite the woman.
God, if you actually exist, can Yuki be like this all the time?
Hirata clapped his hands, earning him the attention of the class. "So, everyone? Are you all in?" The casanova asked, a smile etched on his face.
"I'm in!"
"Please take care of us!"
"I want Ayanokōji-kun to teach me!"
"Are you crazy? He's probably dating Tsubaki-san already!"
"I want Tsubaki-chan to teach me!"
"Good luck with that, bro. Ayanokōji's going to kick your ass."
Does everyone in the class think Yuki's my girlfriend?
Turning my head to the blonde-haired girl, I saw that she was giggling as she heard the assumption of our classmates, her eyes meeting those of Chiaki, who was gritting her teeth in annoyance. Just as expected, I suppose.
Yuki loves hearing people talk about the two of us potentially dating. It's her own way of coping with the supposedly increasing number of "thieving cats."
"In that case, I want Kushida-chan to teach me!"
To her credit, Kushida took Yamauchi's comment in stride and giggled in amusement. She definitely likes attention, doesn't she?
That being said, while the majority of the class voiced out their agreement to participate in the study groups, there were a few who didn't react to the discussion, Kōenji, in particular, stood out, with his usual indifference to what was happening around him.
Well, it's not like it's a loss not to have Kōenji participate. The guy can do well on his own, and I don't think that guy is suited to become a tutor. The last time he attempted teaching someone, he ended up projecting his wild dreams onto them.
By someone, I meant me, and by wild dreams, I meant the legalization of polygamy.
"Thanks, everyone! That said, we won't force anyone who isn't willing to join the study groups. However, we'd definitely appreciate it if you guys do join in," Hirata smiled at the class as he said that.
It may not have been his intention, but the way he phrased his words indirectly put pressure on some of our more hesitant classmates, which is ironic given how earnest and non-forceful Hirata's words sounded.
"With that said, I'd like to congratulate the class on making it through our first test in ANHS! The real challenge is just beginning, but if we all work together, we can definitely show everyone what we're made of. Don't you guys agree?" Yuki said, flashing a confident smile to the class, who responded with enthusiastic support.
Pretty girl privileges, I suppose.
9.2
After our little stunt in front of the class, I headed back to my seat, fully intent on enjoying the rest of the period in peace.
That was until Sudo came to my desk, a wide grin present on his face.
"You're a real lifesaver, Ayanokōji! I'd be dead if you didn't give me some pointers on the things taught in class, you know? I think I'd still flunk it, but I think I did better than I normally would, so that has to count for something," he said, grinning broadly.
"Never have I seen someone so happy about getting a failing score," Horikita remarked, her voice sharp and cutting.
While she likely didn't mean any harm, Horikita could certainly work on her timing and knowing when to hold her tongue.
Sudo's grin quickly faded, replaced by a scowl as he turned to face Horikita. "Hey, what's that supposed to mean? You think it's funny that I'm struggling?" His temper flared, the hot-blooded nature within him unable to let the comment slide.
Horikita, seemingly unfazed, stood her ground. "It's not that I find it amusing. I'm merely pointing out the irony in your enthusiasm. You're a proud idiot, Sudo-kun," she emphasized, her tone cutting.
God damn it, Horikita.
I quickly intervened, hoping to prevent any further escalation between Sudo and Horikita. "Alright, let's not get carried away here. Sudo, Horikita's just making an observation. You've made progress, and that's something to be proud of. While she could have worded it out better, she does have a point. Horikita, while you're right about pointing out Sudo's weakness, it's not right to rain on his parade. Progress is progress," I said.
Sudo huffed, still irritated but willing to let it go. "Fine, whatever," he muttered, turning away from Horikita.
Horikita, however, was not in the mood to play nice. "I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade. I'm merely stating the facts. If Sudo-kun wants to improve, he needs to face the reality of his situation and work on his weaknesses. Sugarcoating things won't do him any favors in the long run," she said, her tone unwavering.
Sudo glared at Horikita. "I'm working on it already. God damn it!"
Sudo turned his head to me. "What's her deal, Ayanokōji? Why the hell is that girl so goddamned rude?"
Horikita heard all of this and glared intently at the redhead. What a headache this was turning out to be.
As much as Horikita's behavior improved, she still remained the same Horikita to people she deemed as "hopeless."
I raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't she always like that to you?" I asked, directing my question at Sudo.
Sudo scoffed in response. "Yeah, and I don't get it! She thinks she's better than everyone, but she ain't. Everyone thinks she's too full of herself," he ranted, clenching his fists.
"Except for Kushida-chan and you, of course. You're both too damn nice for your own good," Sudo continued. "But don't let her walk all over you, man. She doesn't deserve you as a friend."
Me? Nice? You sure do have an ironic sense of humor, Sudo.
"I don't even get why you spend time with her when Tsubaki-san and Matsushita-san are way nicer. You're like some phirantrosomething or whatever," he continued on with his rant.
"Philanthropist is the word you're looking for, Sudo," I corrected, holding back my laughter.
"Screw you, man! But yeah, that!" Sudo exclaimed, realizing his mistake. "Hey, don't blame me. I'm a basketball player, not a dictionary," he added with a grin.
I couldn't help but inwardly chuckle at Sudo's comeback. "Fair enough," I replied, amused.
"How rude of you to talk as if I'm not here, Sudo-kun," Horikita interjected, her voice staying even in spite of Sudo's words. "I don't think it's a matter of thinking I'm better than everyone. It's just that I have a low tolerance for incompetence," she stated coolly, her eyes narrowing into a cold stare.
Sudo's face reddened in anger. "What the hell did you just say?" he spat, gritting his teeth.
Horikita stood her ground, her expression impassive. "I said that I have a low tolerance for incompetence. And if you can't handle the truth, then that's your problem."
Seeing as this was a hopeless endeavor, I dragged Sudo with me to the outside of the classroom lest he flared up and did something he'd regret doing.
I shook my head at the exchange. Horikita was definitely in the wrong for suddenly butting into our conversation and raining on Sudo's parade. Sudo, on the other hand, messed up by mentioning Horikita's relationship with me.
Considering how the dark-haired girl had come to put me on a pedestal, Sudo's insinuation that I was simply looking out for her out of charity did not sit well with her, which led to her further insulting Sudo.
I couldn't resist a small smirk as I thought of a playful analogy. "It's like having a grown dog and a cat," I murmured under my breath, thinking of the two of them.
Suddenly, a thought struck me, and I let out a soft smile. "Don't worry, Tsubasa," I thought to myself. "You're still the only puppy in my mind."
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I focused on the task at hand: calming down a hot-blooded redhead.
"You almost lost yourself there, dude," I said in a dry tone, my eyes focused on the sheepish-looking Sudo.
"Yeah. I apologize for that, Ayanokōji. But can you really blame me? That bitch was trying to push my buttons, man," he reasoned.
I sighed, as the redhead was not wrong in his evaluation. Horikita, in her attempt to spite Sudo, put more salt into the wound, making him angrier. "She's... just rough around the edges, but she typically means well. She simply doesn't know when to hold her tongue," I replied.
"I'd say," Sudo replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Are you calmer now, Sudo?" I asked.
"Yeah, I suppose so. What do you wanna talk about?" Sudo asked.
"Regarding the Study Group, I'll be personally tutoring you for the midterms. Of course, this means you'll have to sacrifice a bit of your club time. Is that alright with you?"
Sudo stayed silent for a couple of seconds before grinning widely. "Of course, I'll do it, Ayanokōji. You're my only hope, man!" he said, clapping me on the back. "Just promise me one thing - that you won't bore me to death, alright?" He laughed, and I couldn't help but be amused at Sudo.
"It's not like you have a choice, Sudo," I pointed out. "Either you study well, or you end up getting kicked out of the Basketball club."
Sudo clicked his tongue. "I know that already! Geez, man!"
I smiled, relieved that Sudo seemed to have calmed down. "Alright then. Let's focus on preparing for the midterms, then. Since you're still lagging behind on the class material, I'll have to start bringing you up to speed as early as now. But of course, I'll ease you into it. I'll send you an e-mail later on, which will contain an annotated attachment that you can go over. I'll also be sending you a worksheet to answer. That fine with you, Sudo?"
The redhead nodded but let out a groan as he did. "Man, if only the basketball club didn't have a grade requirement," he lamented.
I smiled in response. At least Sudo was putting in the effort to improve himself. That, by itself, is already an admirable trait.
Nevertheless, I hope that Sudo will eventually accept the reality check that Horikita gave him. Although her approach might have been abrasive, the truth of her words cannot be denied.
9.3
A couple of days after the surprise test, Yuki and I both received e-mails from the Student Council inviting us to the Student Council Office. It was probably to make our acceptance into the council official, given how Horikita-senpai seemed to have rated us highly.
Yuki spoke up, breaking the silence, "I haven't asked yet, but what happened between Sudo-kun and Horikita-san the other day?"
I turned to face her and let out a sigh. "Just a clash of personalities, I suppose. Two strong-willed people, each with their own way of doing things, got into an argument."
Yuki let out a laugh, "What did Sudo-kun say to her?"
Sometimes, I end up forgetting that Yuki's also incredibly observant because of how quirky she can get. It seemed like she had already figured out the cause of Horikita and Sudo's heated argument.
"Sudo called me a philanthropist for bothering to spend time with, in his words, "a bitch" like Horikita," I said, my tone tinged with amusement, knowing how Yuki would react due to her own dislike of Horikita.
As expected, Yuki burst out laughing. "He really said that?"
I nodded, my lips twitching in a smile. "Yes, he did. And Horikita didn't take it too kindly," I said, recalling the icy glare that Horikita had sent Sudo's way.
Yuki raised an eyebrow. "I can imagine. So, what did she do?"
I paused for a moment, considering how to best phrase what had happened. "She gave him a reality check, to put it lightly," I replied.
"Well, it's not like Sudo-kun is wrong. Horikita-san isn't worth your time. It's been almost a month, and she's still an abrasive bitch," Yuki pointed out.
"That may be true, but she's working on it. Still, I'm not giving up on her. She does carry loads of potential, after all," I replied.
Yuki let out a sigh. "I know I've gotten jealous of Horikita-san because of how much time you're investing in her, but if she fails to show significant growth, I hope you'll just leave her be and move on. You can be a little stubborn, you know?"
"Trust me, I'd be the first to give up on the project once I see that she's completely hopeless," I replied.
The blonde raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Then if that's the case, why did you even bother helping me out? I used to be a helpless case, you know?"
I turned to Yuki, a gentle smile on my face. "What kind of question is that? You're different. I genuinely care for you, so I'm not giving up on you," I said, my voice softening as I looked at her.
Yuki's cheeks reddened at my words. "You're such a Kiyotaka," she muttered.
"It's been 20 days since I last heard of my name being used as an insult. That's got to be a record," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"W-well! You deserved it! You really should be mindful of the things you say to a maiden," Yuki said, throwing me a side glance.
"At this point, I'm pretty much numb to it. You girls have said it about a hundred times, after all," I replied with a shrug.
9.4
After a few minutes, we arrived at the Student Council Office, where we were greeted by Tachibana-senpai. The purple-haired woman had a strained look on her face, but I could tell we weren't the reason for her distress.
"I hope I'm not being rude, but what's going on inside the office, Tachibana-senpai?" Yuki asked, a curious look on her face.
Tachibana-senpai sighed. "Horikita-kun caught some audio bugs planted inside the office, and he wasn't happy about it. Good thing it did not really catch any information that's worth having," she replied.
I raised an eyebrow at what she had just said. It had Nagumo-senpai's fingerprint all over it if the rumors were to be believed. "They sell audio bugs here?" I asked.
It appeared that Nagumo-senpai was even more cunning than I had thought. However, judging from the situation, he needed to work on his timing... or perhaps, it was intentional, and he simply wanted to send a message.
Tachibana-senpai chuckled at my question. "That's the first thing you're asking?"
I shrugged nonchalantly. "They can be useful," I replied.
Tachibana-senpai nodded in agreement. "That's true. But yes, some stores in Keyaki Mall sell them, but you didn't hear that from me."
I might start stocking up on audio bugs, then. Thanks, Tachibana-senpai.
"Well, enough about that. We've kept you both waiting for too long. Please come inside," she said, gesturing for us to enter the office.
As we entered the office, Horikita-senpai was sitting at his desk, a stern look on his face.
"Welcome, Ayanokōji-kun, Tsubaki-san," Horikita-senpai greeted us, his tone formal as usual. "Please take a seat."
We obliged, sitting down in front of his desk.
"I must apologize for keeping you both waiting," Horikita-senpai continued. "We had a bit of a security issue that we needed to address."
I decided to cut straight to the chase. "Nagumo-senpai planted the bugs, didn't he?" I asked, making my accusation.
Horikita-senpai's expression didn't change, but I could see his eyes narrow. "That's quite an accusation, Ayanokōji-kun. Nagumo is the Vice President of the Student Council, after all," he replied, seemingly open to hearing me out.
I didn't back down. "No one else is bold enough to challenge you, Horikita-senpai. Tachibana-senpai said that no significant information got caught by the audio bug, but I don't think Nagumo-senpai is that careless, so I think it was his way of telling you to keep on your toes," I replied.
Horikita-senpai smirked at my analysis. "You could tell? Impressive, Ayanokōji-kun," he praised.
I simply nodded, not wanting to appear too boastful. "It's just a hunch, but it's a plausible one," I replied.
Horikita-senpai leaned back on his chair, his hands folded in front of him. "You have a point there. Nagumo has been quite vocal about his dissatisfaction with the current state of the Student Council. He's been proposing changes left and right, even if they go against the principles held by this school," he said.
"But enough about that," Horikita-senpai paused as he took a sip out of the tea that Tachibana-senpai had just brewed for him. "Let's talk about the reason why we called the two of you here. On behalf of the Student Council of ANHS, I welcome you into our ranks," he finished.
"We look forward to working with you," Tachibana-senpai chimed in, a smile plastered on her face.
"Now then, Ayanokōji-kun. How much have you figured out?" Horikita-senpai asked, clearly alluding to my answer to the application forms, where I hinted at figuring out the S-System.
Yuki giggled. "What did I say, Kiyotaka?" She asked in a smug tone. "You attempted to go incognito and ended up getting senpai's attention," she finished, still giggling.
Like you're any better, Yuki. You called Horikita-senpai's sister a defect of all things on your application forms, a very bold move even if it were true.
I turned my head to Horikita-senpai, meeting his piercing gaze with my indifferent look. "Let's just say we'll be moving up by next month," I cooly responded.
"So you know that much already. Aside from that, you're even aware of what's going on between Nagumo and me. Impressive, Ayanokōji-kun," he praised.
"Is it really? It's just common sense to try and know everything you can get your hands on in a school like this, Horikita-senpai," I replied.
Horikita-senpai stayed silent, an appraising look on his face. It was as if he was building up anticipation for an announcement that was supposed to shock me. It didn't sit well with me if I'm being honest.
"One last question for you, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka-kun," Horikita-senpai paused, a smirk forming on his face. "Are you interested in being the second Vice President of the Student Council?"
I hate it when I'm right in situations where I do not want to be right. But it's not like Horikita-senpai's offer is a bad thing, so I'll take it in stride.
"That's a high amount of trust for someone you've just met, Horikita-senpai," I said, calling him out on his decision.
It doesn't take a genius to understand what Horikita Manabu was planning out when he offered me to be Vice President. It was not a decision driven by impulse but rather a decision guided by his checkboxes all being ticked off.
Those checkboxes were:
[1] My awareness of the power dynamics within ANHS;
[2] My infallibility to manipulation;
[3] My awareness of the looming threat of Miyabi Nagumo; and
[4] My potential to be built up as his potential successor.
"The fact that you've figured out my plan already solidifies that I made the right choice, Ayanokōji-kun," he pointed out.
"Haaah. Well, it's not like I have much to lose if I decide to be the Vice President," I said before letting out a sigh.
"Be happier that Horikita-kun's offering you such a prestigious position!" Tachibana-senpai chided me.
"Ah, apologies, Tachibana-senpai. It's just too much to take in at the moment," I reasoned out.
"Liar," Yuki scoffed and rolled her eyes.
Please don't call me out, Yuki. I'm trying not to anger Tachibana-senpai here.
Horikita-senpai watched our interaction with an inscrutable expression before clearing his throat to redirect our attention.
"Well then, Ayanokōji-kun, your answer?" he prompted.
"I accept," I finally replied, deciding to take the risk. "But under one condition," I paused in an attempt to take in Horikita-senpai's reaction.
The bespectacled boy simply raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"I want access to the Student Council's information network."
There was a moment of silence in the room as Horikita-senpai considered my request. His gaze was still scrutinizing, but I could sense a flicker of interest in his eyes.
"Very well, Ayanokōji-kun. I agree to your condition," Horikita-senpai finally replied, his voice steady.
I could feel a sense of relief washing over me. Access to the Student Council's information network would give me a better understanding of the school's power dynamics and allow me to make more informed decisions. It was a significant step forward in my plans for Class D and the school in general.
"Thank you, Horikita-senpai," I said, bowing slightly.
Yuki looked at me with an expression of amusement mixed with admiration. "I didn't expect you to be such a shrewd negotiator, Kiyotaka," she said.
I shrugged. "It's just common sense to get everything you can out of any deal."
Horikita-senpai cleared his throat. "Now that we've settled that, let's move on to the specifics of your duties as the Vice President as well as Tsubaki-san's role as the first-year representative," he said, pulling out a folder from his desk.
He proceeded to outline our roles in the Student Council, the scope of our powers, and the various tasks we would be responsible for. As he spoke, I listened carefully, taking mental notes of everything he said.
"Veto power?" I asked, narrowing my eyes as I uncovered another layer of Horikita-senpai's decision to make me Vice President. Yuki also picked up on this but opted to simply listen.
"It's just for checks and balances, a prerequisite to a working democratic state. Is there something you wish to say, Ayanokōji-kun?" Horikita-senpai asked, a smirk forming on his face.
Yuki and I shared a look before I sighed. "You mean, do I know what you wanted to hear from me, Horikita-senpai?"
To my surprise, Horikita-senpai actually laughed. It even caught Tachibana-senpai off-guard, which proved that it was not an everyday occurrence.
Horikita-senpai smiled. "You're even better than I expected. But please, do tell me what was on your mind."
"You're hoping I'd come to realize that I can utilize my veto power to overturn the rejection of Ichinose Honami's application to the Student Council," I stated coolly, my eyes fixed on Horikita-senpai's face.
"It's a strategic move, isn't it? With her immense popularity among the first years, having her as my direct subordinate would make it easier to consolidate my power over them while also putting an end to the possibility of Nagumo Miyabi getting a hold of her," I continued, my voice laced with a calculating tone that hinted at my ability to see through Horikita-senpai's intentions.
Horikita-senpai's smile widened, an unusual sight considering his typically stoic disposition. He turned his head to Tachibana-senpai with a look that seemed to say, "I told you so," causing the purple-haired girl to shake her head.
"You really got to stop showing off, Kiyotaka," Yuki said in a dry tone.
Horikita-senpai opted to look at Yuki and me in amusement. "The two of you seem pretty close. Are you in a relationship?"
Yuki giggled. "Not yet, Horikita-senpai. But I'll make sure to let you know when we've made it official," she replied, hugging my right arm.
"I'm more interested in your little sister, to be honest." I joked in an attempt to see how he'd react.
I felt as if the grim reaper was about to devour me. Initially, I thought it came from Horikita-senpai, but I should have known better. Mount Yuki was upon us, and she definitely wasn't happy with what I said, judging from how her nails were digging into my skin.
Horikita-senpai's eyes widened momentarily before smiling and nodding his head. "You have my blessing, Ayanokōji-kun. Suzune would be lucky to have you," he replied.
Yuki's eyes widened in shock at Horikita-senpai's words, her grip on my arm tightening. "E-Excuse me?!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.
Horikita-senpai chuckled. "As an older brother, it is simply natural to root for my little sister. Seeing as you and Ayanokōji-kun aren't in a relationship, I think Suzune still has a chance," he said... and somehow, sounded serious.
I let out a sigh, relieved that Horikita-senpai had taken my joke in stride. "Thank you for the blessing, Horikita-senpai. I'll keep that in mind," I replied.
Yuki looked at me with a mix of annoyance and amusement before finally letting go of my arm. "Ha-ha, very funny. You're doing this to piss me off, aren't you?" she rhetorically asked, rolling her eyes.
"Who knows?"
Horikita-senpai shook his head in amusement. He must have figured out why Yuki insulted his little sister in the forms that she submitted.
"Horikita-senpai, that was a joke. I have no romantic interest in your sister," I clarified, trying to diffuse the situation.
"I'm well aware of that, Ayanokōji-kun," Horikita-senpai replied, pushing up his eyeglasses with a wry smile. "My attempt at humor, albeit perhaps a bit dry," he added, the corners of his lips curling upward.
Well, at least he's self-aware. The same cannot be said about his sister, however.
"But if you do end up having an interest in Suzune, you have my approval to pursue her," he continued, the tone of his voice conveying that he was still playing along with the joke.
Tachibana-senpai shook her head at the rather out-of-character display of Horikita-senpai.
If Horikita-senpai is worried about the continuity of their bloodline, he should just date Tachibana-senpai and do it with her. I'm sure she wouldn't mind.
There's absolutely no need for me to date his little sister.
"As amusing as this little interlude is, we should focus on the task at hand. Are there any more questions regarding your roles?" Horikita-senpai asked, now back in business mode.
Yuki shook her head. "None, Horikita-senpai," she replied.
"I'm good, Horikita-senpai," I said, not wanting to prolong the meeting any further.
"Excellent. Then I shall dismiss you two for now. Please be sure to attend the first council meeting next week. You will receive the details through e-mail," Horikita-senpai said, standing up from his seat.
After bowing to Horikita-senpai, we made our way out of the office.
Vice President, huh? What a surprising turn of events, but definitely not an unwelcome one.
It seems like wherever I go, success follows.
9.5
As soon as we stepped out of earshot, Yuki spun around to face me with a swift movement that sent her blonde locks cascading behind her. Her pout was still firmly etched on her face, and her furrowed brows showed her annoyance.
"So, I guess you're now Horikita-senpai's favorite candidate to be Horikita-san's boyfriend, huh? What an honor," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Oh, she's back in her Queen of Passive-Aggressiveness mode.
I raised an eyebrow, the sound of our footsteps echoing softly against the polished floors. "Is that what you're upset about?" I asked, feigning innocence.
Yuki rolled her eyes. "Of course not. It's just ridiculous that he even thinks his bitch of a sister has a chance with you when I'm here willing and ready to be your girlfriend," she retorted.
"Well, I can't deny that I find you more attractive than Horikita. But who knows? I might be able to change her from a 'bitch,' to a cute lover," I joked.
Yuki grinned. "All I heard from your words were "I find you more attractive than Horikita." Fufu, it seems like my charms are working, after all," she said, a smug expression making its way to her face.
"That's only because she's currently, as you and Sudo put it, a 'bitch.' Ask me again what I think about her when she changes," I cheekily replied.
The blonde sighed in exasperation. "You're really insufferable," she muttered, the sound of her sigh mingling with the distant chatter of students in the courtyard.
I decided to poke fun at her once more. "Still in love with me, aren't you?" I teased.
Yuki's face turned bright red, and she looked away. "That makes it even worse!" she exclaimed, flustered.
As we continued walking, I couldn't help but find Yuki's reaction adorable. She was trying to act tough, but her embarrassment was showing.
"Sorry, sorry," I said, chuckling. "I'm just teasing you. You know I love to push your buttons."
Yuki sighed, but I could see a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yeah, yeah. I know. You're lucky I love you," she replied, playfully nudging me with her elbow.
"Lucky? You're lucky I tolerate your attitude," I quipped.
Yuki rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. "So, what do you think of Horikita-senpai's little matchmaking attempt?" she asked, changing the subject.
I shrugged. "I don't think he was serious. It was just a joke. Besides, as I've said before, I'm not interested in Horikita like that."
Yuki snorted. "Good. I wouldn't want to have to fight with her for your affection. Chiaki-chan is troublesome enough as it is," she said before her face soured. "It still bothers me how she got to make out with you before I did, you know?" She grumbled.
I raised an eyebrow at her words. "Ah, that again? You've kissed me about twenty times already. Haven't you gotten enough of it already?"
Yuki smirked. "Of course not. I could kiss you a hundred times, and it still wouldn't be enough," she said, leaning in closer to me.
I flicked her on the forehead. "We're in public, you idiot," I chided her.
Yuki pouted once again but quickly recovered. "Fine, fine. But can we at least hold hands?" she asked, looking at me with a hopeful expression.
I couldn't help but be amused at her childish behavior. "Sure, why not?" I replied, intertwining our fingers.
The blonde beamed at me, her expression one of pure happiness. "Thank you, Kiyotaka. You're the best!" Yuki said, leaning her head on my shoulder.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me as we walked down the hallway, our fingers intertwined. Despite her occasional bouts of jealousy and passive-aggressiveness, Yuki was someone I truly cared about, and being able to hold her hand and be close to her made me feel truly happy-happier than I initially thought.
I don't believe I'm in love with Yuki, but I do feel a deeper connection with her than I do with Chiaki or Tsubasa.
But now I'm starting to question if there might be more to my feelings for Yuki than I initially thought. Is it possible that I'm actually harboring romantic feelings for her?
I know it sounds crazy, but I can't help but entertain the thought. After all, Chiaki once said, "Love is something that just happens," so who knows?
At the same time, I can't help but wonder if it's just my imagination playing tricks on me. I guess only time will tell if this is just a passing feeling or something more.
End of Chapter
A/N: If you guys haven't noticed, I began making scenes shorter and more digestible. This chapter, as well as chapter 8, only had 6k words, which is significantly lower than the average 8.9k words of the previous chapters to this volume. Let me know if you prefer this kind of pace or the old one.
Now, onto some chapter reflections:
I got tired of Kiyo basically ignoring his thoughts since Chapter 5, and I made him realize that he values Yuki better than the other girls-as the chapter title implied... reality check.
I also toned down Yuki's jealousy streak in this chapter since there was no real reason for her to be actually angry, and... and... Kiyo's actually being more considerate of her feelings and reassuring her.
Wow, who would have thought that taming your yandere GF simply meant making her feel secure?
That said, they will not end up together just yet.
Despite the profound changes in Kiyotaka, the guy still isn't interested in a romantic relationship. However, now that he's beginning to acknowledge his thought of favoring Yuki over the other girls, he's most likely to show her more favor over the likes of Chiaki and Suzune.
But who knows? A lot of plans have changed throughout this fic.
Expect Yuki to show more badassery moving forward, but the craziness will never go away. Watch it go full swing once she catches wind (or... wink wink, witness) of Kushida making Kiyo grab her boobs.
Now, let's move onto Suzu-chan.
You've seen how she's only cute and docile Suzuneko when she's alone with Kiyo, and the same old Bitchkita to others, as you've seen with Sudo.
As explained by Kiyo, Suzune has actually improved as a person-albeit only by a little bit-but Sudo's words pissed her off to the point she wanted to teach Sudo a lesson. She didn't like Sudo implying that Kiyo was only spending time with her out of charity.
Kiyo's doesn't think much of this because of his pet treatment of Suzu-chan... and well, Suzu-chan is unaware of this as well because... she's Suzu-chan, but Suzune, at this point, now has a growing interest in Kiyo.
Lastly, Honami-chan.
Honami will be playing a big role in the story once Kiyo officially vetoes the rejection of her application.
Please bash Manabu-niifor giving his little sister a strong love rival, as Honami will surely be extremely grateful for what Kiyo had done, and who knows where that might lead?
We're in a Y2V9 speedrun here, folks!
Now, the next chapter will reveal just how well Class D did in their first month. Keep in mind that this fic did not have Kiyo spending 200 CP to have Chabs reveal everything, so they'll end up having higher CPs here. Predict how many CPs they'll have!