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 2. Prologue - Ryūen Kakeru's Soliloquy

Ryūen Kakeru

IT WAS SOON AFTER STARTING elementary school that I realized I was abnormal.

During a class field trip, we stumbled upon a sinuous serpent, its scales shimmering under the sun's watchful gaze. While others quaked in fear, I stood unwavering, unafraid of the fangs that might pierce my skin. The students around me reacted in a cacophony of emotions; some gazed with morbid curiosity, others trembled in terror, and still, there were those who remained apathetic. Yet, the majority clamored for the serpent's demise, their pleas ringing in my ears as even the adults joined in with frantic cries for assistance.

Without hesitation, I seized a hefty rock, its weight grounding me, and brought it down upon the snake's skull. As the serpent's blood stained the earth, I remained unflinching, devoid of fear.

The screams of my classmates and the panicked expressions of the teachers swirled around me, but I stood there, impassive. I hadn't intended to play the hero, to destroy the creature that made them shake in fear; I simply didn't see the need to be afraid of it.

I learned something about myself that day.

The moment an adversary falls, a torrent of adrenaline surges through me, the lines between fear and pleasure becoming indistinguishable. I've begun to think that the world is governed by violence, and one's own unique brand determines one's accomplishments.

The snake's death was my first unshakeable victory, and the sight of its flattened corpse gave me such pleasure.

However, the fact remains that people bristle at those they perceive as different, as deviants. Since that day, I have faced a myriad of enemies, both internal and external.

But fear never gripped me.

My mind became consumed by thoughts of retribution, of turning the tables on those who dared to oppose me. In time, they would all kneel before me, for those who wield violence with unparalleled prowess are the true elite.

There was just one problem, and it grew as I did.

It became increasingly difficult for me to feel pleasure. I was bored. Bored because no one could fulfill my dearest wish—to be overthrown.

I've come to think that perhaps I'd only meet my match in death.

Until now... when I finally laid eyes upon a formidable opponent, someone who had the potential to fulfill my deepest desire—to be overthrown. This enigmatic individual moved through the world with a rare air of grace and an undeniable intensity that beckoned me, fueling my curiosity. I couldn't help but yearn to test my mettle against theirs, to see if they could indeed dethrone me.

But, to my mounting frustration, he remained indifferent to my existence. It was as if I were a ghost, an apparition that failed to make an impression upon their world. This indifference gnawed at my very core, turning my once unquenchable thirst for conflict into a raging inferno.

Every encounter, every attempt to provoke them only resulted in their silent dismissal, their gaze never lingering on me for more than a fleeting moment. I found myself grappling with emotions I had never experienced before—desperation, longing, and, the most infuriating of all, a sense of inadequacy.

The world that had once trembled before me seemed to hold no sway over them, and this realization festered within me, poisoning my thoughts and actions. I sought to make them acknowledge my presence, my power, my very being. But the harder I tried, the more resolute their dismissal became.

As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, I found myself consumed by this unrelenting pursuit. This person, who had effortlessly evaded my advances, had become the focus of my existence. And yet, they remained ever elusive, their indifference serving as both a beacon and a taunt, driving me to the brink of madness.

In the depths of my frustration, I began to question the very foundation of my beliefs. Were my previous victories and my unwavering confidence in my own abilities merely an illusion, a facade I had constructed to shield myself from the truth?

Could it be that this person, this enigma who had so effortlessly slipped through my grasp, was the harbinger of my ultimate downfall? The thought both terrified and exhilarated me, igniting a spark of hope amidst the ashes of my despair.

For now, at last, I had found someone who could challenge me, who could push me to my limits, and perhaps, just perhaps, bring me to my knees. In this uncharted territory, I found a new purpose, a renewed hunger for the struggle.

It doesn't matter how long it would take or what tricks I would have to pull...

I will crush you and bury you beneath my foot.

Your nonchalance will be your undoing.

End of Prologue

A/N: With Kiyotaka being the Student Council Vice President as early as now, it should be obvious to characters like Ryūen to see Kiyotaka as the most powerful figure in their year, and it would be natural for Ryūen to try and test his mettle against Kiyotaka.

So yeah, no mastermind plot points, no X 'mystery.'

Because what's the point of all that when it's obvious that Kiyotaka is the leader of his class?