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. Chapter 1 - Post Midterm Celebration
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
Today was Friday, one day before the planned Post-Midterm Celebrations that were organized by both Horikita-senpai and Tachibana-senpai.
At the moment, it was lunchtime, which I was currently spending with both Yuki and Chiaki, with both girls receiving bentos that I had cooked... for the third straight day.
About ten minutes ago, we ran into Horikita-senpai, who had a pleased look on his face before asking, "Did Suzune like the onigiri?"
This led to the current situation where I had to tell Yuki and Chiaki what exactly happened when I went to Keyaki Mall on Monday.
Yuki, for obvious reasons, wasn't happy.
"Let me get this straight," Yuki began, pouting. "When you went grocery shopping on Monday, you ran into Horikita-senpai, who helped you pick out ingredients and even told you about Horikita-san's favorite onigiri variant?"
I nodded my head. "That's pretty much what happened, yes."
"Feels like you two are getting buddy-buddy like future brothers-in-law," Yuki grumbled. "You see that, right? I can't even imagine how he'll act tomorrow."
"He's simply making things easier for me," I replied, shrugging. "I don't see anything wrong with that."
"I knoooow," Yuki replied, acknowledging my points. "But I'm just jealous, okay? You actually went out of your way to make Horikita-san her favorite onigiri variant, and you got her brother's help. As your future wife, that's just a big no-no."
There she is again with that "future wife" talk.
We're still 15, Yuki.
"If it makes you feel any better, Yuki-chan, you're still miles ahead of Horikita-san," Chiaki reassured, attempting to appease the jealous girl. "Kiyotaka-kun wouldn't need help from anyone about making the food you like because he knows just about everything about you. That has to count for something, right?"
Upon hearing Chiaki's words, Yuki beamed. "You've got a point there! That's a sound, solid argument. Very well, Chiaki-chan," Yuki paused, turning her head to Chiaki. "As a reward for your astute observations, I'll allow you one kiss with Kiyotaka."
Chiaki chuckled, her blue eyes gleaming with mischief. "And you promise not to be jealous?"
"... I promise not to be jealous. But only this one time, okay? Only because you raised extremely valid points," Yuki conceded.
Did... Chiaki just manage to defuse the Yuki-nator?
That's actually pretty impressive, all things considered.
But... since when did you have the authority to gift my kisses to people, Yuki? I never remembered ever granting you that privilege.
"I like the sound of that!" Chiaki replied, patting the top of the taller girl's head, much to Yuki's annoyance.
"Stop that! Only Kiyotaka can pat my head," she complained.
"You two are idiots," I responded, swirling my chopsticks through the soba on my plate. "And Yuki, I don't remember giving you the right to grant away my kisses."
"You won't kiss, Chiaki-chan?" Yuki asked, giggling. "It seems like you're behaving like a loyal husband, Kiyotaka."
"I would kiss Chiaki, but I'll do it on my own terms," I replied, glancing at Chiaki, who was seemingly amused at the exchange. "I like to have control over my life, thank you very much."
Yuki pouted. "You didn't even hesitate!"
I've kissed Chiaki plenty of times now, Yuki. Why would I even hesitate to do something that I had already done before? There's just no logic in that.
"It's not like I haven't kissed her before," I replied, shrugging.
Chiaki giggled. "And from the looks of it, Kiyotaka-kun likes kissing me," she added, glancing in my direction.
"But I bet he likes kissing me more. After all..." Yuki challenged, intentionally trailing off her words as she allowed Chiaki to take in the words that were unspoken.
Yuki, after all, was quick to brag to Chiaki that I admitted having almost wanted to do... the act with her.
"You two really shouldn't be arguing about something like that," I replied, taking a couple of sips from the glass of water in my hand. "We're hormonal teenagers, and we get aroused at random moments."
"Leave it to Kiyotaka to talk about his lust as if it were a science lesson," Yuki said in a dry tone.
Because those are simply facts, Yuki.
Our libido is controlled by our hormones, which tend to fluctuate and act up during our teenage years. It's completely natural, and there's no reason to make a big deal out of it.
"To think he'd use his Robotkōji Kiyobaka mode to deflect our topic," Chiaki said, amused.
I glanced at Chiaki for a bit before turning my attention back to my soba. "I think I'd rather be called Kiyo...pon than Robotkōji Kiyobaka, Chiaki. That nickname is just malicious," I joked, although I do mean it in a way.
In fact, I think I actually stopped acting like a "Robotkōji" for about a month and a half now, so that nickname should already be obsolete.
"You sure don't have any luck with nicknames, Kiyotaka," Yuki pointed out as she snickered.
"I know. It seems like I've been cursed to receive horrible nicknames," I replied, sighing.
"By the way, Kiyotaka," Yuki said, turning her head toward me. "I'm a little confused about what Horikita-senpai sent in our group chat. Did he mean we'd have to gather by 5:30 PM, or did he mean that our booked time was 5:30 PM?"
"I asked Tachibana-senpai, and she said it was the booked time for our reservation. So we'd probably gather around 5:15 PM tomorrow," I replied.
In typical Horikita-senpai fashion, the guy sent a vague chat in our group chat about our gathering tomorrow. He just typed "5:30 PM" as if that would answer everything.
I shook my head in amusement.
Horikita Manabu had two switches: his work mode and his casual mode.
In his work mode, the guy was as meticulous as they came and always made things detailed, elaborate, and devoid of holes. He does so in a short amount of time—definitely the epitome of efficiency and effectiveness.
However, in his casual mode, the guy was roundabout and often left things out for interpretation, as if he was expecting you to get everything immediately. This probably explains his relationship with his sister, now that I reflected upon it.
"He really couldn't be bothered to type in two more words? It's easy to type Booked Time: 5:30 PM, you know?" Yuki replied, shaking her head in amusement.
"He really just typed out 5:30 PM?" Chiaki asked. "He texts like he's some 50-year-old dad."
Yuki stifled a laugh. "He really does, doesn't he?"
"I can't believe I went from being intimidated by Horikita Manabu almost two months ago to hearing stories about his quirks," Chiaki said.
"That's just normal when you start learning more about the person beyond his public persona," I replied. "When you look at Yuki, would you expect that she's as weird as she is?"
Yuki pouted at my words. "What do you mean by 'weird,' Kiyotaka? That's just mean!"
"How would people think if they found out you're the type of person who'd clean an entire room, not to ensure the entire room is clean, but simply to take into account the possibility of doing it... on the floor?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.
"That's... that's not something you should bring up in public, Kiyotaka!" she stammered.
Chiaki tilted her head in confusion. "What's so wrong about that? I'd also do the same thing, you know?"
Yuki's eyes widened, and she looked at Chiaki with surprise.
"Really? You would?" Yuki asked, her tone a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
Chiaki nodded, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Of course! A clean environment is important for... various activities. It's just practical."
Yuki burst into laughter, unable to contain herself. "I knew there was a reason why we're best friends, Chiaki-chan! Mhm-mm! Great minds think alike."
"But only I can get to do it with Kiyotaka," she continued, sending Chiaki a sour look.
Chiaki chuckled, not at all fazed by Yuki's possessive remark. "Like you can stop me, Yuki-chan."
Yuki huffed, crossing her arms. "I won't let you steal him away from me, Chiaki-chan."
"And for someone so possessive of me, you sure seem oddly open in letting Chiaki kiss me, Yuki," I replied, glancing at the blonde-haired girl in amusement.
"It's just Chiaki-chan. Even if she likes you too, she knows her place," Yuki replied.
Chiaki smirked, her blue eyes sparkling mischievously. "Oh, do I now?"
Before Yuki could react, Chiaki leaned over and planted a quick peck on my cheek. Yuki's eyes widened in surprise, her mouth hanging open for a moment before she quickly regained her composure.
"What was that for?" Yuki exclaimed, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"For thinking I've already given up," Chiaki replied, smiling elegantly. "Just because I've been fine with taking command doesn't mean I'm simply handing over Kiyotaka-kun."
"Oh, I never thought that you'd given up, Chiaki-chan," Yuki replied, finally regaining her calm. "I simply think that you don't stand a chance... at all."
Chiaki's smile widened, and she leaned back in her chair, seemingly unfazed by Yuki's confident words. "Is that so? Well, I guess we'll just have to see about that, won't we?"
I involuntarily let out a heavy sigh upon witnessing the two embroiled in one of their never-ending banters once again.
If that's how it was going to be, the two of you should just agree to share me together. Not that I actually want to be in a polygamous relationship, but it'd be more reasonable than this drawn-out rivalry.
But... since I value staying alive, it'd be best for me to hold my tongue.
1.1
As the lunch break came to an end, students gradually returned to the classroom, chatting about their plans for the weekend and other miscellaneous topics. I made my way back to my seat, the empty containers from the three bentos I had brought with me neatly stacked in my arms.
"The next time I do this, I'm making Chiaki and Yuki wash these things. It's the least they could do for the free lunch they get," I thought to myself, sighing.
As I settled down, I noticed Horikita eyeing me with curiosity. Over the past few days, I had noticed her observing me just as I would be headed out during lunch break, and today, she finally decided to speak up about it.
"It's the third day now," Horikita remarked, her gradient red eyes lingering on the stack of bento boxes I placed on my desk.
I looked at her with a teasing smile, seizing the opportunity to have some fun. "Oh, you've been keeping track? If you're that interested, you're more than welcome to join us for lunch next time, Horikita."
Horikita's cheeks flushed slightly, clearly caught off guard by my response. She quickly composed herself and tried to play it off as if she hadn't been watching me at all.
"I wasn't keeping track," she said defensively, her eyes darting away from mine. "It's just... hard not to notice when you're carrying around three bentos every day."
"Is that so?" I replied, arching an eyebrow. "Well, the invitation still stands, Horikita. You're always welcome to join us if you'd like."
Horikita hesitated for a moment, seemingly considering the offer, before she shook her head gently. "No, that's alright. I don't want to intrude on your... lunchtime routine. But thank you for the offer."
I glanced at Horikita briefly before turning away, amused at her answer.
Was it a Horikita trait to be unable to say what they actually wanted to say?
I could tell just from the slight flicker of thought that Horikita did want to join in, which was probably a byproduct of enjoying the lunch we had earlier this week.
How cute, Horikita Suzune.
"Suit yourself," I said, shrugging my shoulders as I began to tidy up my desk. "Just remember, the invitation remains open."
Horikita looked at me for a moment, her expression revealing a mix of curiosity and something else, something harder to decipher. It was as if there was an internal battle of emotions within her, conflicting desires vying for control.
After a brief silence, she spoke, her voice level and calm, masking any hint of the conflicting feelings her eyes had shown. "I appreciate the invitation, Ayanokōji-kun. Maybe... I'll take you up on it sometime."
Her response caught me off guard. I had anticipated that she would deflect my words, perhaps accusing me of being presumptive or something similar. The fact that she left the possibility open did genuinely surprise me. While it was one thing for her to agree to have lunch with me alone, it was entirely different for her to admit that she'd consider having lunch with a group of people.
In fact, when she had lunch with Yuki and me when we got the old test from that senpai, she didn't seem too comfortable. She probably just went along with it simply because she wanted to know what I planned to do and the rationale behind the decision to buy the old test from a senpai.
But hey, I wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
I'll take this progress.
"Take your time, Horikita. There's no rush," I said, offering her a reassuring smile. "If you ever feel like joining us, even if it's just for a brief moment, feel free to do so. Chiaki did enjoy the few conversations you've had and Yuki... Yuki enjoys your food."
Horikita nodded, her expression softening slightly. "Thank you, Ayanokōji-kun. I'll keep that in mind."
"You're actually pleasant to talk to when you're not trying to be annoying," she muttered to herself, but unbeknownst to her, I heard her words loud and clear.
I turned my head toward Horikita, looking at her in amusement. "Are you indirectly admitting you're falling for me, Horikita?"
Horikita's cheeks flushed crimson, and she quickly averted her gaze. "N-No! That's not what I meant at all. I was just acknowledging that you can be tolerable on occasion."
"Oh? So, you're saying you're not falling for me? That's disappointing. Here I thought we were making progress," I joked.
Horikita's embarrassment only deepened, and she shot me a glare. "Why would you even insinuate such a thing? That's just ridiculous."
After enjoying the flustered look on Horikita's face, I finally spoke. "For starters, you never really compliment other people so easily. So this must be something, right?"
She sighed, her frustration evident in the slight furrow of her brow. "You really know how to turn everything into a joke, don't you?"
"A joke?" I asked, arching an eyebrow. "I wouldn't be so cruel as to treat your feelings like that, Horikita."
"Idiot. Stop talking to me," Horikita replied, her gradient red eyes flashing with indignation as she glared at me.
With that, the conversation concluded, and we both turned our attention to the upcoming class.
What an interesting turn of events.
1.2
The next day, I found myself hanging out with Ichinose and Yuki as we waited for the rest of the Student Council to finally arrive. It was currently 4:45 PM, which would actually be about 45 minutes before our booked time in our room in the Karaoke Box.
"Mind telling me why you wanted to come in earlier than the call time, Yuki?" I asked, turning my head to the blonde-haired girl, who hummed a tune. "You even dragged Ichinose along. She might be busy doing something else, you know?"
"I don't really mind it, Ayanokōji-kun," Ichinose replied, smiling warmly. "I actually didn't have anything else to do since I told everyone I would be going with the rest of the Student Council for today."
Yuki, still humming her tune, glanced at us before answering. "I thought it would be nice to spend some time together before the whole group arrives. You know, just the three of us, without all the usual fuss."
"And... I've really missed Honami-chan," she added.
Ichinose giggled. "It's only been three days, Yuki-chan. You're making it sound like we haven't seen each other in months."
"Can't I just miss my other best friend in this school?" Yuki replied, pouting.
"Best friend?" I asked, arching an eyebrow. "Isn't Chiaki your best friend?"
"Silly Kiyotaka," Yuki said, looking at me as if I were a child. "You're allowed to have as many best friends as you want. That's just how it is. Honami-chan agrees with it as well, so you're outnumbered."
"Well, I would put it more nicely, but Yuki-chan is right," Ichinose added.
That doesn't make any sense to me. By definition, best essentially meant the top of the list, numero uno, ichiban, and generally refers to only one entity.
Having multiple "best" friends dilutes the meaning of the word "best," as it would then apply to numerous separate entities.
Girls are weird.
"That said, I was surprised when Horikita-senpai said he advance booked a room in the Karaoke Box," I said, changing the topic. "To think there's such a room in the Karaoke Box."
Ichinose nodded her head. "I would go to the Karaoke Box alongside my friends in Class C, and we didn't need to book in advance. We could just walk in and book a room for ourselves, and we'll have our room," she replied.
"I wonder how different this room would be compared to the normal Karaoke Box rooms," Yuki mused.
Apparently, the reason why Horikita-senpai had to book a room in the Karaoke Box was the fact that the room he booked was located in a hidden area within the Karaoke Box that supposedly offered more amenities than the usual rooms being offered. That, and Nagumo-senpai insisted that the Student Council celebrate in the hidden room to mark the first-year members' integration into the school's "upper hierarchy," or so he says.
Nagumo-senpai said that the area was typically used by the faculty and other school staff. In fact, they only knew of this hidden place when they accidentally overheard a couple of teachers discussing it during one of their breaks.
And Nagumo-senpai, being the person that he was, wasted no time in asking about the place, how to even book the hidden room, and how much it costs to book the room.
It turned out that the hidden Karaoke room wasn't a secret, per se, but rather an unadvertised feature of the Karaoke Box. The students hadn't discovered it since it wasn't included in the brochure given to us on the first day of class. Moreover, it wasn't explicitly listed as an option when students entered the Karaoke Box. Instead, it was discreetly tucked away and reserved for those who specifically requested it, such as faculty members or those in the know.
There really are things that you'd only know about if you bothered searching for them or inadvertently stumbled upon them.
"I wonder if they have alcohol in there," I thought out loud, thinking about the implications of why it was deemed a "hidden room."
"I highly doubt it," Ichinose replied, shaking her head. "It's still a school facility, after all. And besides, it's not like we're of legal drinking age."
"That's true," Yuki chimed in. "But it would have been nice if they did. I want to see Kiyotaka drunk."
I raised an eyebrow at Yuki's comment. "You want to see me drunk? I might ask Ichinose for a kiss if I get drunk," I joked.
Ichinose blushed slightly at my remark, but she quickly regained her composure, giggling softly. "Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that. We wouldn't want any unintended consequences."
"Unintended consequences?" Yuki asked, tilting her head.
"I might say yes and kiss him," Ichinose giggled.
To my surprise, Yuki did not get jealous. Instead, the blonde-haired girl looked at Ichinose in amusement.
"As if," Yuki said, chuckling. "You're more likely to blush for the entire night and probably faint, Honami-chan."
Ichinose raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, really? Are you underestimating me, Yuki-chan?"
Yuki smirked, a challenge in her gaze. "Prove me wrong, then. Kiss Kiyotaka right now."
Upon hearing Yuki's unexpected words, Ichinose blushed, unable to look either of us in the eye.
Ichinose fidgeted with her fingers nervously. "W-Well, that's... um... I didn't mean it literally, Yuki-chan. It was just a figure of speech," she said, trying to defend herself.
Yuki grinned mischievously, clearly enjoying Ichinose's reaction. "Oh, so you're backing out now, Honami-chan? I thought you were up for the challenge."
I stared at the scene with interest. It was rather... peculiar to see Yuki actually teasing someone and goading them into kissing me, considering she'd normally get jealous at the thought of me kissing another girl.
It seemed like Yuki simply didn't see Ichinose as a threat and, as such, was more than willing to tease the poor girl for her amusement.
Ichinose took a deep breath and looked at Yuki with a determined expression on her face. "Alright, I'll do it," she said, surprising both Yuki and me.
Before either of us could react, Ichinose leaned in, her warm breath mingling with mine, her eyes locked onto mine. Her lips were just a hair's breadth away, so close I could feel the heat radiating from them. But instead of closing the gap, she placed her cool index finger on my lips, a playful and teasing smile on her face as she giggled softly.
I'm... admittedly a little disappointed.
"Gotcha!" Ichinose exclaimed playfully, retracting her finger and pulling back from the almost-kiss. Her cheeks were tinted pink, a mischievous smile dancing on her lips.
Yuki burst into laughter, clearly amused by Ichinose's prank. "I never seen Kiyotaka look like that before! Good job, Honami-chan! He actually..." she paused, catching her breath in between laughs. "He actually looked surprised."
Ichinose giggled, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of satisfaction and bashfulness. "I couldn't resist having a little fun. But don't worry, Yuki-chan. I won't steal your man."
"That's why I love you, Honami-chan," Yuki replied, capturing Ichinose in a hug.
You're such a kid, Yuki.
"To think you had that side in you, Ichinose," I said, sighing.
"Hmm? You thought I'd actually kiss you, Ayanokōji-kun?" Ichinose asked, tilting her head, her silky hair cascading over her shoulder.
"No, but it'd be nice if you actually did," I replied, my blank tone making it hard for them to tell if I was serious or if I was joking.
Ichinose blushed, her eyes widening in surprise. "A-Ayanokōji-kun, you're... actually serious?"
"Don't listen to him, Honami-chan. If he wants to get kissed, I'll do it in your stead," Yuki said before cupping my cheeks with her hands and giving me a quick peck on the lips.
"That's it?" I challenged, arching an eyebrow.
"Well, we're still in public, you know?" Yuki reasoned out, gesturing to the many chairs around us. Though there were only about 10 people nearby, each engrossed in their own conversations.
"If you really want to kiss longer, we can just sneak out later," Yuki added, winking at me.
So she wants to tease Ichinose, huh?
"Oh, that sounds intriguing," I replied.
Ichinose's eyes widened, and she glanced between Yuki and me, clearly taken aback by the sudden turn of events. "Wait, you two are actually serious about this?"
Yuki chuckled, releasing her hold on my face. "Well, I was just teasing Kiyotaka, but it seems like he's up for it."
Ichinose blinked rapidly, processing the situation. Her face turned a deep shade of red, as if she'd been splashed with hot water. She struggled to find the right words to respond.
"Um, well, I... I don't know what to say," she stammered, clearly flustered. "If you two are going to... sneak out, I'll cover for you two."
Yuki patted the top of Ichinose's head, giggling. "It's alright, Honami-chan. We're just playing around," Yuki reassured her, her mischievous smile softening. "No need to cover for us."
Ichinose let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, relief washing over her features. "Oh, thank goodness. You had me worried there for a moment."
That makes me curious, though," I said, glancing at Ichinose. "Instead of reprimanding us, you actually offered to cover for us. Are you secretly a rebel, Ichinose?"
Ichinose blushed and looked away, her fingers fidgeting with a strand of her hair. "Well, it's not that I condone sneaking out or anything. But if you two really wanted to do it, I didn't want to ruin your plans or get in the way."
I observed Ichinose's reaction, noticing the sincerity in her words and the hint of self-consciousness in her posture.
It seemed that even if Ichinose Honami was a person who had a sense of responsibility to her, she was not above allowing people to enjoy themselves and indulge in whatever they wanted to do, even if it typically went against what she believed in. She didn't even bother preaching her own principles, as some people would.
She's really... a textbook good girl.
"A good girl to your very core, aren't you, Honami-chan?" Yuki teased.
Ichinose looked bashful at the teasing praise, her cheeks warming with a delicate blush. "Well... it's not like that. It's just that... no one really likes a killjoy, right?" she replied, her smile sheepish.
"Mhm-mm!" Yuki replied, eagerly nodding her head, her golden hair catching the sunlight as it swayed with her movements.
The blonde-haired girl then turned in my direction, her eyes shimmering with mischief. "You should learn something from Honami-chan, Kiyotaka," she said, chiding me with a lighthearted tone.
"Did you say something, Yuki?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Wha-Wha?!"
If I could, I would have laughed in amusement upon seeing the shock on Yuki's face, as her eyes widened like saucers and her mouth formed a perfect 'O' shape.
1.3
Soon, it was 5:15 PM, and as if on cue, Horikita-senpai strode in with Tachibana-senpai not far behind. I blinked in surprise, as seeing them in anything but school uniforms felt weird for some reason. Somehow, I felt like the school uniforms were like their second skin.
Another misconception thrown out of the window, I suppose.
"You three are early," Horikita-senpai noted, his violet eyes scanning the three of us. "When did you get here?"
I pretended to glance at my wristwatch before meeting the older boy's gaze. "About thirty minutes ago, senpai."
"Ne, senpai, I noticed you and Tachibana-senpai arrived exactly at 5:15 PM. That's uncanny precision. What's up with that?" Yuki asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she darted her gaze between Horikita-senpai and Tachibana-senpai.
Horikita-senpai's expression remained stoic, giving away nothing. "It's merely a coincidence, Tsubaki," he replied, his voice steady. "We didn't plan to arrive at exactly 5:15. Don't think too much about it."
Tachibana-senpai, on the other hand, couldn't help but chuckle at the situation. "Didn't you count 3, 2, 1 before walking in, Horikita-kun? I saw you do it," she said, her voice teasing. "In fact, you do that all the time."
Horikita-senpai's eyes widened slightly, clearly caught off guard by Tachibana-senpai's revelation. He quickly composed himself and cleared his throat. "That was merely a habit I developed over the years," he replied, his voice regaining its usual calm tone. "It helps me maintain a sense of punctuality."
Yuki grinned impishly, clearly enjoying seeing Horikita-senpai being put on the spot. "Or... you just have a flair for the dramatics, Horikita-senpai."
Tachibana-senpai laughed, nudging Horikita-senpai playfully. "When it happens all the time, it's gonna be hard to deny it, Horikita-kun. I think you're right, Tsubaki-chan! He does have a flair for the dramatics," she added, smirking.
Horikita-senpai, though slightly taken aback by Tachibana-senpai's playful teasing, seemed to relax a bit more in the casual atmosphere.
How amusing.
"I'm surprised you're actually joining in on teasing him, Tachibana-senpai," I said, glancing at the bun-haired girl. "After all, you reprimanded me before for poking fun at Horikita-senpai."
"Hey, this is different! We're in a casual setting, so we can just be casual with each other," Tachibana-senpai reasoned. "What you did was different. You were making jokes while we were in a formal meeting, Ayanokōji-kun."
Or... maybe you just wanted to feel like you're his girlfriend for today, Tachibana-senpai. You sure seemed happy to take advantage of Yuki's teasing words, you know?
But I kept that thought to myself. As Eiichiro once said, "hell hath no fury like a short woman scorned."
Instead, I simply nodded in agreement. "I see your point, Tachibana-senpai. It's good to see everyone letting loose a little."
"You were actually thinking of something mean, weren't you, Ayanokōji-kun?" Ichinose giggled as she whispered in my ear.
"What makes you think I am?" I whispered back.
"A woman's intuition," she replied, her smile broadening as she leaned back.
I raised an eyebrow upon hearing Ichinose's words. I doubt teenage girls have honed their instincts to that degree.
If that were the case, then Horikita should have already picked up on her brother's words, as vague and indirect as they may be.
Shaking my head at the thought, I walked up to Horikita-senpai, who gave me a nod upon seeing me.
"How are things with Suzune?" He asked, smirking.
Before I could respond to the older boy, I noticed Yuki glancing in our direction with increased interest... if the glare she sent my way was any indicator.
I involuntarily let out a deep sigh.
"You ask the weirdest things, senpai," I replied dryly.
"You two had lunch together, didn't you?" He rhetorically asked, his tone light and teasing. "I'm simply asking if there was any progress, nothing more to it."
I raised an eyebrow, my hands subconsciously brushing off my pants as I noticed a bit of dust clinging to them. "If you simply wanted to ask how it went... then that's a really odd way of asking, senpai."
The bespectacled boy chuckled. "I simply want to catch you off-guard."
"Ah. Mission failed then," I replied, a wry smile forming on my lips.
"That said, it seemed like we're only missing Nagumo," Horikita-senpai said, changing the topic. "He's typically early for gatherings like these."
Just as Horikita-senpai said that, Nagumo-senpai strode in with an air of confidence. His casual outfit only seemed to enhance his charisma, making him stand out even more than usual.
"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear," I quipped, nodding at the older blonde-haired boy.
Nagumo-senpai flashed a charming smile that was seemingly targeted at both Yuki and Ichinose. Then, he walked up to us, nodding at Horikita-senpai and me. "My apologies for keeping you all waiting. I had some last-minute matters to attend to."
"No worries, Nagumo-senpai," I replied, waving off his apology. "Besides, it's still 5:28."
"Ayanokōji-kun is right, senpai," Ichinose chimed in, smiling warmly. "All of us were just talking to pass the time."
Nagumo-senpai nodded, his smile widening. "That's good to hear. It seems like everyone is in high spirits today."
"Now that everyone's here, let's not waste any more time," Horikita-senpai ordered, leading the charge as we walked inside the Karaoke Box.
Upon entering, the vibrant notes of catchy tunes from nearby rooms washed over us as Horikita-senpai approached the receptionist's desk. A brief exchange and a keycard later, he beckoned for us to follow him.
We ventured through a discreet door at the back of the Karaoke Box, revealing a surprisingly luxurious and spacious hidden section. This concealed area boasted larger, more comfortable rooms with plush seating, a wide variety of snacks and drinks, and a dedicated server attending to our every need.
As we settled into our private room, the soft, plush carpeting beneath our feet and the dim, ambient lighting created a warm, inviting atmosphere. The enticing aroma of fresh popcorn and mouthwatering appetizers filled the air, drawing wide-eyed astonishment from Ichinose and Yuki.
"This place is amazing!" Yuki exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "I didn't expect it to be this nice. It's like we're in a completely different building."
Ichinose nodded in agreement, clearly impressed as well. "Now that I know what the Hidden Room looks like, I feel like I've been missing out all this time."
Horikita-senpai chuckled, clearly pleased with their reactions. "I'm glad you're all impressed. This is a special occasion, after all."
"And that means we should celebrate in style," Nagumo-senpai chimed in, grabbing the songbook that was resting beneath the TV's left corner.
"Singing already?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow.
Nagumo-senpai laughed, his fingers dancing over the remote as he began selecting songs. "We're in a Karaoke Box, Ayanokōji. What else would we do here? Sleep?"
I shrugged, conceding to his point. "You're right. That said, those are a lot of songs, Nagumo-senpai," I observed, glancing at the "10" displayed on the upper right corner of the TV screen, indicating the number of songs queued in the system.
"I actually just punched in random numbers," Nagumo-senpai confessed, grinning. "But that makes it more fun, right?"
Now, that's just suspicious, senpai.
"Let's just hope you didn't accidentally select some song that belonged in the 60s, senpai," Yuki joked, her voice lilting with mirth.
Nagumo-senpai chuckled in response. "Well, a couple of really old songs managed to slip in, but I'm pretty sure everyone can sing them," he replied, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"I thought all of those songs were for you to sing?" I asked curiously.
"Why would I sing the first ten songs by myself?" Nagumo-senpai asked in amusement. "I like to share the spotlight, Ayanokōji. How about I sing the first five, and you sing the next five?"
I inwardly let out a sigh upon hearing Nagumo-senpai's words. It would seem that even in a relaxed atmosphere, the older boy still found a way to do things his way.
Now, I'm having doubts about whether or not those songs were actually picked out at random. After all, Nagumo-senpai had most likely been in the Karaoke Box multiple times before.
"Think of it as bonding between senpai Vice President and kouhai Vice President, eh?" Nagumo-senpai added.
And there we go.
As Nagumo-senpai's eyes met my own, I could sense the hidden message that lay beneath his blue eyes.
This wasn't just about having fun and enjoying ourselves – it was a subtle test, a way for Nagumo-senpai to gauge my abilities and how I would handle an unexpected situation. It seemed that even in the most casual of settings, the competition and underlying power dynamics remained present.
Of course, I could simply say no, which would be the logical thing to do under normal circumstances.
I suppose I could humor him, but not before taking control of the situation.
"Oh, I'd love to see that!" Tachibana-senpai exclaimed, giggling. "Let's see if you also have some musical talent of your own, Ayanokōji-kun. Don't choke in between songs, okay?"
While Nagumo-senpai was probably trying to test me, Tachibana-senpai, on the other hand, simply wanted to see me embarrass myself. She probably thought that my monotonous voice would mean that I had an unflattering singing voice.
The Student Council is filled with weird people, isn't it?
"Don't get carried away, Tachibana," Horikita-senpai chided his secretary, who simply giggled.
Looking at the bespectacled boy, he had probably picked up on what Nagumo-senpai wanted to do, based on the look he was sending the blonde-haired boy.
But instead of intervening, it seemed like he decided to simply see what I'd do in this situation.
"Kiyotaka is actually quite talented in music, Tachibana-senpai," Yuki chimed in. "He's the best piano player I know."
I turned my attention away from the girls and back to the smirking Nagumo-senpai. "Singing is different. I don't want to do it," I replied, earning a chuckle from the older boy.
"Don't be boring, Ayanokōji," Nagumo-senpai said, looking at me in amusement. "How about if we add stakes to it? Would you be interested?"
I raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference while internally intrigued by the sudden proposal. This was the opening I had been waiting for, an opportunity to gauge Nagumo's willingness to negotiate and what stakes he would be willing to offer.
"Stakes? What kind of stakes are we talking about, senpai?" I asked.
Nagumo-senpai's smirk widened, unaware that he was playing right into my hands. "If you manage to sing those five songs without any major mistakes, I'll do a favor for you in the future, within reason, of course. However, if you fail to meet that standard, you'll owe me a favor instead. What do you say?"
So he's that confident that I would fail, huh?
Nagumo-senpai's seemingly whimsical decision to add stakes to this ordeal should be an indicator that everything that he did leading up to this moment was done on purpose, from 'randomly' selecting ten songs to determining the order of who would be singing up to subtly making the group wanting the two of us to kickstart the show.
Nagumo-senpai, right under everyone's noses, shaped the arena of the battle in his own image, controlling every parameter and the criteria of how this game was supposed to be played.
In a way, Nagumo Miyabi was showing me a glimpse of his power, as childish as the flex might have been.
However, it was clear that he had been underestimating me.
While singing wasn't an area that I specialized in, I was no slouch in the field, having been taught the necessary skills to fend for myself. I'm fairly confident that I would be able to sing without missing a single note.
This challenge... was mine to win.
"Do I even have a choice, senpai?" I asked, feigning annoyance.
"You do, but I hope you won't be a killjoy, Ayanokōji," Nagumo-senpai countered.
I glanced at the others in the room, who were all watching our exchange with varying degrees of interest. It seemed that they were all curious to see how this would play out.
Horikita-senpai looked as if he wanted to stop what Nagumo-senpai was planning, contrary to his initial stance. He was probably compelled to do something after hearing the blonde-haired boy raise the stakes to this friendly competition.
Have some faith in me, senpai.
I glanced at the bespectacled boy, sending him a nod to tell him that I've got this situation under my control.
Horikita-senpai returned my nod, now eager to see how I would respond to the challenge.
I sighed, feigning resignation as I met Nagumo-senpai's gaze. "Alright, senpai. I'll accept your challenge."
Nagumo-senpai grinned, clearly delighted. "That's the spirit, Ayanokōji. I knew you wouldn't disappoint."
The blond-haired boy then surveyed the other Student Council members, who were finding their places within the room.
Horikita-senpai was now conversing with Tachibana-senpai, their voices blending with the background hum. Meanwhile, Yuki had just procured a popcorn box, her fingers lightly grazing the warm, buttery kernels. Ichinose, on the other hand, held a cool glass of orange juice, the condensation glistening on the surface. She appeared amused as she observed the others with a smile on her face.
"Everyone, would it be fine if Ayanokōji and I take turns singing the first ten songs?" Nagumo-senpai asked the group, who nodded in agreement.
After receiving nods of affirmation from everyone, Nagumo-senpai tinkered with the remote again, and in mere seconds, music surged from the speakers, filling the room with a cacophony of melodies and beats.
1.4
As the opening notes of the first song rang out, Nagumo-senpai confidently strode to the center of the stage, clutching the microphone with poise.
As the melody unfurled and lyrics materialized on the screen, Nagumo-senpai sang with gusto, his voice unexpectedly harmonious. His performance was magnetic, captivating everyone in the room.
"Well, he's certainly got the voice for it," Yuki said, taking a bite out of the popcorn in her hand.
"Would he even turn this entire situation into a competition if he couldn't sing?" I asked rhetorically, leading Yuki to chuckle.
"You have a point there," she replied.
The blonde-haired girl then asked me to scoot over and then sat next to me, resting her head on my shoulders.
I shook my head in amusement.
"What? It's not like they'd notice. It's pretty dark here, you know?" Yuki pointed out.
"I suppose you have a point."
Yuki grinned mischievously. "I could do this too, and no one would notice," she said before cupping my cheeks and kissing me on the lips.
"You really don't hold back, do you, Yuki?" I said, shaking my head. "But judging from Ichinose's blushing face, it seems like your claims were false."
Yuki chuckled, releasing her hold on my face. "Well, I guess I was wrong this time," she admitted, glancing at Ichinose, who was indeed blushing. "But it's just Honami-chan. She won't snitch."
Ichinose shook her head, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I won't snitch, but you shouldn't do that when there are other people around, Yuki-chan. It's embarrassing," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Yuki giggled, seemingly unfazed by Ichinose's comment. "Oh, Honami-chan, you're too cute when you're flustered. But don't worry. I'll behave for now," she said, winking at me.
I shook my head, turning my attention to Nagumo-senpai, who was now in the middle of the chorus for his first song.
Nagumo-senpai's performance continued without pause, transitioning smoothly from one song to the next.
As he sang, he moved gracefully around the room, engaging with the others and drawing them into the music. It was apparent that he knew how to command attention, even in such a casual setting.
But this also confirmed the suspicion that I had earlier: the supposedly 'random' selection of songs was not random at all. The supposedly randomly picked songs not only fit Nagumo-senpai's vocal range but also subtly highlighted his charisma and stage presence.
Of course, there was the possibility that Nagumo-senpai was just a versatile singer, but with what I've learned about the blonde-haired boy, the possibility of this scenario being completely random was about zero.
Nothing about Nagumo Miyabi's actions was done on a whim or without thought. The fact that he even baited me into engaging in this "friendly" contest was telling enough that he had an angle.
As I was about to be drowned in my thoughts, Yuki's words brought me back to the world. "I wonder what songs Nagumo-senpai picked for you," she whispered.
I turned my head to the blonde-haired girl. "You've also picked up on it?"
"Well, it's easy to figure out. For randomly selected songs, he seemed to have a good handle on each song that he had sung so far. That, and the way he pressed those numbers on the remote. It didn't seem like he needed to think about what random number to press next," Yuki answered.
I nodded, acknowledging Yuki's astute observation. "You're right. Nagumo-senpai's song choices and his flawless execution make it clear that this wasn't random at all."
"What a petty flex, though," Yuki replied, shaking her head. "It's not like his performance would affect the bet at all."
"In his mind, his great performance would provide a stark contrast to my performance that he pretty much believed would bomb," I replied. "That's all there is to it."
"You should be happy that he's underestimating you for now," Yuki giggled. "You won't have it this easy next time around."
"That's true."
Nagumo Miyabi's competitive nature was relentless. Even in a setting as innocuous as a karaoke box, he managed to weave in the ongoing power struggle within the Student Council.
And it seemed like this time around, Nagumo-senpai was flexing his superiority by attempting to teach me a lesson, one centered around controlling the environment and the parameters of the battle.
This was pointless, though.
In the midst of my thoughts, Nagumo-senpai finished his fifth song and handed the microphone to me with a sly smile. "Your turn, Ayanokōji. Let's see what you've got."
Taking the microphone from him, I gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "You sure did set the bar high, senpai. I'll try not to disappoint."
Nagumo-senpai laughed and patted me on the back. "Don't worry about that. Just make sure to entertain everyone, alright? I'll be rooting for you."
"Ah, thank you, senpai," I replied.
I took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage, the first song of my set beginning to play. The familiar notes filled the room as the lyrics appeared on the screen. I could sense Nagumo-senpai's calculating gaze on me, but I ignored him for the time being.
I began to sing, focusing on the lyrics and the rhythm, allowing the music to flow through me.
I could feel the eyes of the others on me, their expressions varying from surprise to curiosity.
"What the hell?! How does someone whose voice sounded like that of a defective robot have a good singing voice?" I heard Tachibana-senpai exclaim from her seat.
"Yuki-chan, were you aware that Ayanokōji-kun was a good singer?" Ichinose asked Yuki, sounding pleasantly surprised.
"This is actually the first time I heard him sing," Yuki replied, amused at the entire ordeal.
So far, so good.
I wasn't embarrassing myself, and have even surprised the people in the room.
As I transitioned from one song to the next, I couldn't help but notice that Nagumo-senpai's choices were not only challenging but were also designed to force me to display emotions and stage presence.
I inwardly let out a sigh. So that was the other layer to his game, huh?
He was trying to unnerve me by selecting songs that he believed would drag me out of my comfort zone and, in the best-case scenario for his plot, embarrass me.
I had to admit, Nagumo-senpai's plan was working, in a way. The songs he had chosen pushed me out of my comfort zone, requiring me to express myself in ways I wasn't used to. However, what he didn't consider was my ability to adapt to situations that were supposed to unnerve me.
I have been trained to keep my cool without fault, to look at things logically, and to operate based on logic.
And in this exertion of will, although childish, the logical response... was to bite the bullet and earn a victory rooted in surprising everyone with how well I performed.
Throughout my performance, I noticed that Yuki and Ichinose were cheering me on, their expressions full of encouragement. Horikita-senpai and Tachibana-senpai observed with mild curiosity, while Nagumo-senpai watched me intently, his challenging smirk never wavering.
After I finished my fourth song, I turned to Nagumo-senpai, who was still watching me with that grin plastered on his face.
"You didn't expect this, did you?" I asked, allowing a faint smile to show on my face.
Nagumo-senpai raised an eyebrow, his challenging smirk slightly faltering. "I'll admit, Ayanokōji, I didn't anticipate you being quite this good. But there's still one song left, isn't there?"
"That's quite ominous, senpai. But I guess I should be flattered that you went through all this trouble just to challenge me," I replied.
Nagumo-senpai chuckled. "You knew about it all along and still decided to play along? I'm genuinely impressed. But that said, there's still one song left. Get your mind back in the game, or you might just owe your favorite senpai a favor."
"So long as your demands are reasonable, I'll be fine with it. However, I have no plans to lose, senpai," I replied, meeting his blue eyes with my own.
The blonde-haired boy grinned. "That's the spirit!"
As I prepared for the final song, I couldn't help but wonder what Nagumo-senpai had in store for me. Was it going to be a song that required a vocal range I didn't possess, or was it something that would require me to perform in an overly dramatic and embarrassing manner?
The opening notes of the last song filled the room, and I quickly recognized it as a popular power ballad, and a sense of relief washed over me.
While the song was challenging, it was not something that would push me too far out of my comfort zone. I steadied my breath and began to sing.
As I hit the high notes and poured the appropriate emotion and tone into the lyrics, I noticed the expressions of the others in the room changing. Yuki and Ichinose were smiling, clearly enjoying my performance. Horikita-senpai and Tachibana-senpai seemed genuinely impressed, their eyes widening in surprise. Nagumo-senpai, however, maintained his challenging smirk, but I could see a glint of frustration in his eyes.
I reached the climactic final chorus, and as the last notes rang out, the room erupted in applause.
"Well, I'll be damned," Tachibana-senpai said, her tone carrying a hint of disbelief. "You really showed us, Ayanokōji-kun."
"Amazing performance, Ayanokōji-kun!" Ichinose cheered, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
Yuki lunged at me, capturing me in a hug. "That's like... the most emotions you've shown ever since I've known you, Kiyotaka! Granted, it was singing, so you're probably just acting, but I still went doki-doki, you know?"
I stepped off the stage and handed the microphone back to Nagumo-senpai, who was clapping slowly, his eyes never leaving mine.
"I'll admit, Ayanokōji, you've proven me wrong," he said, the words clearly not coming easily to him. "You've managed to turn my little challenge into a moment of triumph for yourself."
I shrugged nonchalantly. "It was just a friendly competition, senpai. There's no need to take it so seriously."
Nagumo-senpai's smirk turned into a genuine smile, and for a moment, I saw a hint of respect in his eyes. "Still, you've won this round, Ayanokōji. But don't get too comfortable. I'll be keeping an eye on you."
It seemed that, despite his competitive nature, he could appreciate a worthy opponent.
Nagumo-senpai then grabbed me by the shoulder, his grip firm yet relaxed, and leaned in, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, "But you've got to admit... this is an interesting lesson for you, isn't it? I might have underestimated you this time, but I won't be making the same mistake again."
His voice was low and smooth, dripping with amusement over the situation.
"Can I use the favor you owe me for you to just leave me alone, senpai?" I whispered back.
Nagumo-senpai chuckled softly, his breath tickling my ear. "Now that you've impressed me, I'm afraid I won't be able to grant you that particular favor. Life would be far too dull without our little games, don't you think?"
He released his grip on my shoulder and stepped back, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "However, I will let you enjoy the rest of the night without worrying about anything else. You deserved it, after all."
"Quite the reward," I replied sarcastically.
Nagumo-senpai just laughed and clapped me on the back. "Consider it a token of my appreciation for tonight's entertainment. Now, let's enjoy the rest of our time together, alright?"
He flashed a smug grin that seemed to glint in the vibrant lights before sauntering back to his seat.
I narrowed my eyes at the blonde-haired boy, who was now taking a sip from a soda can.
With how I was brought up, I was unable to foster feelings of hatred, love, happiness, or anything that the White Room felt was unnecessary to be cultivated. However, as my mind began to ponder and consider various perspectives that I've left on the back burner for years... there was something that I discovered.
I absolutely disliked it when people looked at me as if I were a toy they could freely utilize for their machinations.
My father was the only one who got away with doing so, but he would also be the last one to succeed at that.
Nagumo-senpai, you would never be capable of crushing me.
1.5
As the night went on, the mood lightened, and everyone became more relaxed and carefree. The tension that had been present earlier dissipated, replaced by a light-hearted atmosphere as everyone let loose and enjoyed themselves.
Suddenly, Yuki leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I think this evening wouldn't be complete until Tachibana-senpai and Horikita-senpai perform a duet!" she exclaimed, gesturing to the two third-years sitting beside each other.
Yuki's eyes sparkled with mischievous glee as she looked over at Tachibana-senpai, who blushed at the suggestion.
"E-Eh?" Tachibana-senpai stammered, clearly caught off-guard by Yuki's suggestion. "I-I mean... I would be fine... but would Horikita-kun even be fine with it?"
Horikita-senpai, sitting beside Tachibana-senpai, glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. His usual stoic expression softened slightly, a hint of amusement playing on his lips.
"I suppose I can't say no to such an enthusiastic request," he said, his voice carrying a rare touch of playfulness. "If Tachibana is willing to sing with me, then I don't see why not."
Tachibana-senpai's blush deepened, but a shy smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She nodded, her eyes glimmering with a mixture of embarrassment and excitement.
"Alright, let's do it!" she agreed, her voice filled with newfound determination.
The room erupted in cheers and applause as Tachibana-senpai and Horikita-senpai agreed to perform a duet. Yuki quickly scrambled to find the perfect song for them to sing, flipping through the songbook with fervor.
"Honami-chan, come here! Help me pick up a song," Yuki called out to Ichinose, who giggled.
"Alright, Yuki-chan!"
Ichinose joined Yuki at the table, both of them huddled together, scanning the songbook's pages with excitement. The two girls exchanged whispers and giggles, their eyes darting back and forth between the songs and Tachibana-senpai and Horikita-senpai.
Eventually, Yuki and Ichinose settled on a song, their grins widening with satisfaction. They returned to their seats, passing the chosen song to Horikita-senpai and Tachibana-senpai.
"What did you pick for us?" Tachibana-senpai asked curiously, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Yuki leaned forward, and her voice filled with excitement. "It's a classic love ballad, 'Unchained Melody.' We thought it would be a perfect duet for you two."
"Lo-Love ballad?!" Tachibana-senpai exclaimed, her face growing redder by the second, which surprised me, given the dim lights of the room. "And that's a pretty old song too!"
"Do you not know how to sing it, Tachibana?" Horikita-senpai asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Can we have something that's not in English?" Tachibana-senpai pleaded.
I shook my head in amusement.
It was obvious that Yuki didn't actually choose an old classic for the two to sing. She was simply messing with Tachibana-senpai by saying she selected a love ballad. It was probably her way of getting back at Tachibana-senpai for doubting my singing prowess earlier.
Yuki's also a top-tier troll, isn't she?
Yuki burst into laughter, unable to contain her amusement any longer. "I'm just kidding, Tachibana-senpai! We picked a fun and energetic song for you two. It's a J-pop hit that I'm sure you'll both enjoy."
Tachibana-senpai let out a sigh of relief, a mix of gratitude and exasperation evident on her face. "Thank goodness," she muttered, her embarrassment starting to fade.
Horikita-senpai chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "I have to admit, Tachibana, a love ballad would have been quite the unexpected choice for us."
Tachibana-senpai pouted playfully. "You know I'm not the best with romantic songs, Horikita-kun. I might have turned tomato-red on stage."
I'm pretty sure that's not the case, Tachibana-senpai because I've seen several love songs on your playlist.
You'd only turn into a tomato simply because you'd be having a duet with your crush.
Horikita-senpai chuckled softly, his gaze warm as he looked at Tachibana-senpai. "Well, I wouldn't want to subject you to such embarrassment. Let's stick to something more lighthearted and fun."
Tachibana-senpai smiled appreciatively, grateful for Horikita-senpai's understanding. They both took a moment to familiarize themselves with the song, their eyes locked on the lyrics on the screen.
As the music started, Tachibana-senpai and Horikita-senpai began their duet, their voices intertwining in perfect harmony. Despite Horikita-senpai's lack of singing ability, he managed to hold his own, and Tachibana-senpai's voice shone brightly, carrying the melody effortlessly.
Their performance was a delightful mix of charm and comedic moments. Tachibana-senpai's enthusiasm was contagious, and Horikita-senpai's stoic demeanor provided a comical contrast. They played off each other's strengths and weaknesses, creating a unique and entertaining rendition of the song.
The room was filled with laughter and applause, everyone thoroughly enjoying the unexpected duet.
Nagumo-senpai, in particular, was having a field day whenever Horikita-senpai was off-tune, as he was cackling to the point I could have sworn there were tears in his eyes.
As the song came to an end, everyone erupted into cheers and applause, congratulating the two third-years on a job well done.
"That was amazing, you two!" Yuki exclaimed, clapping enthusiastically. "I had no idea someone could butcher a song to the point of actually making it entertaining, Horikita-senpai!"
Horikita-senpai chuckled, a rare genuine smile gracing his lips. "I aim to please, Tsubaki. Though I must say, Tachibana did most of the heavy lifting in making it entertaining."
Tachibana-senpai blushed at the praise, her eyes shining with delight. "Thank you, Horikita-kun. But you did a great job too. It was so much fun singing with you!"
Nagumo-senpai, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes, approached Tachibana-senpai and Horikita-senpai, a wide grin on his face. "I must say, Horikita-senpai, your singing skills are truly something to behold. I've even gotten it on camera!"
Horikita-senpai's eyes widened in alarm, realizing that Nagumo-senpai had recorded his less-than-stellar singing performance. A sense of panic flashed across his face, but he quickly regained his composure.
I inwardly laughed upon noticing the aloof bespectacled boy lose his composure momentarily. For someone like Horikita-senpai, I would have expected him not to care at all.
"Don't worry about it, Horikita-senpai," I interjected, shaking my head at the entire ordeal. "He was too busy laughing to even record you."
Horikita-senpai's tense expression relaxed slightly as he realized that Nagumo-senpai's laughter had prevented him from capturing the embarrassing moment on video. A hint of relief washed over him, and he nodded in gratitude toward me.
"Is that so? Thank you, Ayanokōji," he replied.
"However... someone else did manage to record it," I said, waving around my phone tauntingly.
Horikita-senpai's eyes widened once again, a mix of panic and curiosity evident on his face. "You recorded it, Ayanokōji?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
I smirked, teasing him with the knowledge I possessed. "Yes, I did capture your magnificent performance on video. But don't worry. I won't use it against you... for now."
Horikita-senpai's expression shifted from worry to a mix of relief and annoyance. "You never miss an opportunity, do you, Ayanokōji? I suppose I should have expected nothing less."
Nagumo-senpai, still chuckling, interjected with a mischievous smile. "How about you send me that video, Ayanokōji? I might need a good laugh once in a while."
I considered his request, contemplating whether to continue with the joke or be merciful to Horikita-senpai. Ultimately, I decided to extend a hand of mercy.
"I'm keeping it for myself," I replied, glancing at the blonde-haired boy. "It's your fault that you were too busy laughing at him."
Nagumo-senpai chuckled, his amusement still evident. "Fair enough, Ayanokōji. I can't argue with that reasoning. But if you ever change your mind, I'll eagerly await that video."
Horikita-senpai let out a sigh of relief. He shot me a brief nod of gratitude, his stoic composure restored.
I nodded at him before going back to my seat, with a more than eager Yuki laying her head on my shoulder once again.
"Best seat in the house," Yuki said, giggling to herself.
I turned my attention to my phone. After fiddling with it for a while, I opened the messenger app and opened up the message thread between myself and Tachibana-senpai.
[19:24:50] Maybe you could use this to lull yourself to sleep later, senpai.
After sending the message, I then sent the video of her duet with Horikita-senpai.
As soon as Tachibana-senpai received the video, her eyes widened in shock, and her mouth hung open as she watched the recording, a mix of horror and amusement crossing her face.
"I... did these?" She muttered to herself, probably noticing her dance moves from earlier while she was singing.
"What are you talking about?" Horikita-senpai curiously asked.
"He..." Tachibana-senpai pointed a finger at me, pouting. "Sent me the video."
Horikita-senpai sighed, having resigned himself to his fate. "At least he only sent it to you," he said.
"Why didn't you guys say anything about my dancing?" She whined, covering her face with her palms.
Yuki giggled. "Don't worry, senpai! Unlike Horikita-senpai's awful singing, your dancing actually made you look cuter."
I chuckled at Yuki's comment, observing Tachibana-senpai's reaction. She peeked through her fingers, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, yet a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Y-You really think so?" Tachibana-senpai asked, her voice a mix of uncertainty and hope.
Yuki nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely!"
Ichinose chimed in, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "And we're here to have fun! So it really shouldn't matter if it's embarrassing or not."
"To think it'd be the first-years who'd do the consoling," Tachibana-senpai said, chuckling. "Thank you, Tsubaki-chan, Ichinose-chan!"
"But you..." Tachibana-senpai turned her attention to me, glaring at me. "I'll get you back for this."
I said nothing and just took a couple of popcorn from Yuki's box.
"Hey, that's mine!" Yuki protested.
"Too bad, they're in my stomach now," I replied.
"You owe me a kiss for that."
"Alright."
A few seconds later, my phone vibrated. Upon taking it out of my pocket and opening it, I saw a text notification from Tachibana-senpai.
Contrary to her indignation, she seemed to have appreciated the fact that I shared the video with her.
[19:28:52 Tachibana Akane] Thank you!
[19:28:59 Tachibana Akane] If I listened to this on mute, maybe I could pretend Horikita-kun is actually a good singer.
[19:29:12] You sure do have a healthy imagination, senpai.
Soon, the night came to an end. We all exchanged our farewells and headed back to our respective dorm buildings. Yuki, Ichinose, and I walked together as we were all headed to the same building.
Ichinose seemed comfortable trailing behind us, while Yuki stayed close to my side, her arm linked with mine.
"That was quite the night, huh, Kiyotaka?" Yuki said, leaning her head on my shoulder.
"Yeah, it was more eventful than I had anticipated," I replied, a faint smile forming on my lips.
Yuki chuckled softly. "You really surprised everyone tonight, especially Nagumo-senpai. I bet he'll be a lot more cautious around you from now on."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," I said, shaking my head. "Nagumo-senpai is not one to back down easily, and I have a feeling that this is just the beginning."
"The situation earlier... sure was tense," Ichinose quipped, glancing up to the skies.
Yuki squeezed my arm gently. "Well, whatever happens, I'll be right here by your side. You know that, right?"
"I know, Yuki," I replied, patting her on the head.
"And... I'll be supporting you as well, Ayanokōji-kun," Ichinose added. "You've helped me out before, and I'd like to return the favor when you need it."
"Thank you, Ichinose. Do you want a head pat too?"
"E-Eh?!"
"For a girl who's usually confident and self-assured, you sure do act like a wallflower when Kiyotaka's around," Yuki said, almost accusingly.
Ichinose blushed, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance on her face. "I-I do not! I just... didn't expect him to offer me a head pat, that's all."
"And... Ayanokōji-kun has a different aura than other people, so it's a bit hard not to get flustered around him sometimes," she continued.
Yuki laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, you're not wrong about that. There are plenty of reasons why I'm in love with him, and that's just one of them."
Ichinose's cheeks flushed even redder, her eyes darting away from Yuki and me. "Well, I can see why," she mumbled, her voice barely audible.
Yuki grinned triumphantly as if she had just won a major victory. "Don't worry, Honami-chan. I won't be jealous if you have a little crush on Kiyotaka. As long as you remember that he's mine."
"I don't have a crush on him," Ichinose insisted.
"Yuki, stop teasing Ichinose," I interjected, sighing.
"Only if you promise to kiss me later!"
"Didn't I agree to that earlier?"
"Well... one more kiss then!"
"Fine," I replied, seeing no reason to deny her a kiss.
With that, the three of us enjoyed the rest of our walk in relative silence.
And beneath the silver glow of the moon, a peculiar sense of tranquility washed over me. Tonight, I successfully navigated through Nagumo-senpai's challenge and enjoyed myself in the process.
However, this victory represented merely a single skirmish in a far grander conflict.
The power struggle within the Student Council was far from over, and Nagumo-senpai's words echoed in my mind: "I won't be making the same mistake again."
I had shown him tonight that I was not to be underestimated, but in doing so, I had also painted a target on my back. It wasn't because of the fact that I won the 'friendly' challenge between Nagumo-senpai and myself, but because of the fact that he had realized that I knew of his intentions all along.
In a striking reversal, Nagumo Miyabi found that, contrary to his initial plan, I had manipulated him instead.
To his credit, he took the loss well, choosing to focus on the excitement of finally having a worthy opponent – something he had been craving.
This meant that Nagumo-senpai, who left me alone over the past month... would give me increased attention moving forward.
But for now, I decided to put that thought back on the back burner. I'll deal with Nagumo-senpai when it is time to deal with him.
For now?
I'll just enjoy this momentary peace.
End of Chapter
A/N: After scrapping so many ideas, this is what I decided to go with.
So there you go, the first 'battle' between Nagumo and Kiyotaka. I thought it'd be a neat touch to add this since Nagumo's probably the type of guy who'd turn everything into a competition and pretty much win all the time. It's just that... this time around, he miscalculated and, as such, lost the bet.
That said, I'd like to repeat that Soliloquy chapters are meant to basically serve as a Volume Preview. Some people PM'ed me and asked if Dragon-boy actually made a move off-screen, and the answer is no. This Volume would be the first time that Kiyo and Dragon-boy would meet.
Also, Arisu might make an early appearance in the story, but... (to spite all the Arisu simps, jk) due to the trajectory of this story, she wouldn't be a threat at all. Even Dragon-boy has better chances than her, simply because of the Yuki factor.
Yuki would murder Arisu if she heard that the crippled sociopath attempted to provoke Kiyo by mentioning the White Room.