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 14.5 - The Inner Turmoil of Kushida Kikyō

A/N: This is just a short chapter that seeks to capture what Kushida had been feeling the day after the torment she had experienced. I figured this would be a good way of seeing things through her eyes, as I'd rather not just brush off how she felt through all of this.

That being said, I decided to release this scene as a .5 chapter so that we can get the ball rolling with Chapter 15, which should be the end of the first Kushida Arc.

Kushida Kikyō

The morning light streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a warm glow over my bedroom. It was a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil that still lingered in my heart. The psychological scars from the night before, though invisible, weighed heavily on me.

I dragged myself out of bed, feeling drained and numb. But I couldn't let the others see me like this—broken and defeated. My pride wouldn't allow it.

The cool water cascading down on me in the shower provided a brief distraction from the turmoil inside. As I lathered my body with soap, I scrubbed away the residue of the previous night's ordeal, as though I could wash away the shame and fear that clung to me.

But deep down, I knew that the memories would always be there, haunting me like a specter in the shadows.

My reflection in the mirror stared back at me, pale and hollow-eyed, and seeing this look etched on my face served nothing more than to infuriate me for being unable to put up a fight... for being so careless.

However, I had to put on a brave face, even if it was just a facade.

As I made my way to class, the familiar sights and sounds of school filled the air. Laughter, conversations, and the steady rhythm of footsteps against the tiled floor surrounded me, making me feel more like an outsider than ever before. How could these people be so carefree when my world had been shattered?

As I entered the classroom, I could feel the curious stares of my classmates boring into me. I offered them a strained smile, doing my best to appear as though nothing had changed. But inside, I was seething with rage.

This was all their fault for being incompetent morons that drove me to rage. If only... if only they weren't so stupid... I wouldn't even bother bottling and releasing all the anger that led that bitch to stack her cards against me.

But of course, I had to pretend to be the class angel, to be the nicest girl of them all... because the adulation, the admiration, and the trust... were like the dopamine that allowed me to remain alive.

"Yahallo, Kushida-san!"

I turned my head in the direction of the voice and was met with the smiling face of Inogashira Kokoro, a sweet girl who had become one of my friends after I helped her out during the class introductions.

I gave Inogashira a gentle smile and walked up to her.

If I were being honest, Inogashira Kokoro was one of the few girls in the class that I actually tolerated. Unlike the deputy head bitch Karuizawa who was so fake that it almost made me want to vomit, Inogashira was a genuine, good-natured girl, albeit a little too naive.

Not that there was anything wrong with that, to be honest, as it made the impressionable girl a person that I couldn't ever be wary of.

"Hello, Inogashira-san! How's the self-study going for you?" I asked, leading the brown-haired girl to have a thoughtful expression on her face.

"I think I've gotten a decent hold on it, Kushida-san... but I'm still not too confident about some of the stuff we're reviewing," she replied.

Well, that was fine. At least she was trying.

"Don't worry about it, Inogashira-san!" I encouraged the girl, smiling at her once more. "Just tell me later about the stuff you still don't get, okay? I'll help you out. That's what friends are for, right?"

Inogashira beamed. "That's right! Thank you, Kushida-san!"

With that, the brown-haired girl returned to her seat, but not before sending me a smile.

Mhm-mm.

That was how things were supposed to be— everyone relying on me, thinking of me as someone they could trust and adore.

I'm truly twisted, aren't I?

"Good morning, Kushida-chaaan!"

Before I headed to my seat, I heard a voice that made my blood boil. I turned around to see Ike Kanji, a lecherous boy who had been making inappropriate advances toward me for weeks.

On the inside, I felt a wave of disgust wash over me. How dare a cretin like him approach me as if he was worthy of breathing the same air as I did?

But on the outside, I plastered on a friendly smile and nodded in his direction.

"Good morning, Ike-kun," I said, my voice dripping with false sweetness.

He leered at me, his eyes lingering on my body in a way that made my skin crawl. I fought the urge to shudder and drop this short boy to the ground.

I had to maintain my composure and pretend as if his advances didn't bother me.

"So, Kushida-chan, I was wondering if maybe you'd like to grab lunch together today?" Ike asked, his voice laced with a sickeningly sweet tone.

I felt bile rising in my throat at the thought of spending even a minute alone with him. But I forced myself to keep up appearances, my smile never faltering.

"I'm sorry, Ike-kun, but I already have plans for lunch today," I lied smoothly.

Ike's face fell, but he quickly masked it with a grin. "Ah, that's too bad. Well, maybe some other time then?"

I nodded, already feeling a sense of relief that the conversation was coming to an end.

"We'll see, Ike-kun," I replied, smiling. "If you don't mind, I'll have to get back to my seat so I can start preparing what to do for our study group later."

"Oh, that's fine, Kushida-chan!" Ike replied, grinning.

"Make sure to listen properly later, alright?" I spoke in a teasing tone.

"Haaaai!"

As Ike turned away, I felt a sense of revulsion wash over me. The idea of being associated with someone like him made my skin crawl. But I knew that I had to keep up appearances, no matter how much it made my blood boil.

I took a deep breath and made my way to my seat, doing my best to shake off the lingering feeling of disgust. It was just another day in high school, after all. And in the end, I knew that I couldn't let anyone see the cracks in my facade.

Because if I did, then what would be left of me?

Nothing but a hated person, ostracized by irrelevant insects.

And I refused to let that happen.

14.5.1

A few minutes later, the sound of the classroom doors opening caught my attention, and I turned my head toward the source. My eyes widened, and I felt a momentary panic wash over me upon seeing that demonic bitch Yuki enter the classroom, flanked by that side bitch Matsushita and Ayanokōji-kun.

My heart raced, each beat a desperate plea for escape, as I forced myself to take deep, measured breaths in an effort to calm down. Despite my attempts to conceal it, I was acutely aware that the fear and unease I felt were etched onto my face like a map of my torment.

As I fought to steady my breathing and mask my anxiety, my mind raced with thoughts of self-preservation and the need to protect my carefully crafted image. I couldn't let anyone see the cracks in my facade, or I risked losing everything I had worked so hard to build.

Thankfully, my classmates' attention was elsewhere, granting me the opportunity to hide the fear and anxiety that threatened to consume me.

It was a surprise that the mere sight of Yuki didn't send me spiraling into a full-blown panic attack. But somehow, I managed to maintain a semblance of control, with only my ragged breaths and the wide-eyed look in my eyes betraying the turmoil I was experiencing.

I then watched as Yuki sauntered into the classroom, her aura exuding confidence and superiority. She was like a predator, stalking its prey, and I knew that I was in danger just by being in her presence.

After some of our classmates had finished greeting them, I decided to greet them as well as to keep up this illusion of friendliness and camaraderie.

I forced a smile onto my face, a well-practiced façade, and waved at them. "Good morning, Ayanokōji-kun, Matsushita-san, Yuki-chan!"

The three of them turned their heads at me. While Matsushita and Ayanokōji-kun opted to simply nod, Yuki walked in the direction of her seat, which to my frustration, was directly in front of me.

It was like the fates were taunting me every single day and telling me there was no escaping this demonic bitch.

"Good morning, Kikyō-chan!" Yuki greeted back with a warm smile, her face showing none of the sadism it had displayed during our confrontation the previous night.

As she set down her bag and took a seat, Yuki turned towards me, flashing a smile. "Are you ready for later?" she asked.

Later, huh?

To think that my carelessness had led to me becoming the temporary pawn of this demon-spawn.

Of course, I could have just said no... but I would do whatever it took if it meant keeping my secrets close to my heart.

Even if it meant damning the futures of some poor bastards that had nothing to do with me.

"Yes, let's do our best, Yuki-chan!" I replied, but my eyes soon widened as I realized that my mask almost slipped with my slight hesitation.

Despite my attempts to look strong... it really was hard to look my tormentor in the eye.

End of Chapter

Closing A/N: What do you guys think of how I portrayed Kushida's reaction? I want to show everyone that she is struggling with her fear and anxiety, but at the same time, she's trying her best to maintain her facade and protect her image. I wanted the emotions to be intense but not overdone.

I wanted to make one message clear with this short chapter: Kushida would do whatever it took if it meant protecting her image.

I hope I did that well.

Initially, I thought of having Kushida undergo a panic attack, but what Yuki did probably wouldn't constitute a reaction like that, especially with Kiyotaka instructing Chiaki to try and work on Kushida the previous night (if you want to read this specific part of Chiaki doing her job, check out the second scene of Chapter 13.)

See you in the next chapter!