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 2 - Calm before the Storm
Unknown POV
June 15, 2015, Monday.
The dimly lit classroom buzzed with the soft hum of fluorescent lights above. The scent of chalk dust and lingering eraser shavings filled the air, as shadows flickered across the rows of neatly arranged desks.
"Class A, currently in a power struggle between some bald guy with a boner for honor and a little girl, Class B, led by the Student Council Vice President and aided by another Student Council member, and Class C... led by another Student Council member, who've successfully cultivated a tight-knit unit in their class. The mountain sure is steep, isn't it, Kaneda?"
"Ha...Hai, Ryūen."
I chuckled upon sensing fear from the bespectacled beige-haired boy, with the sound of my laughter echoing through the room, reverberating off the walls like a predator's call.
"Scared of me, aren't ya?" I mocked the boy, who didn't react to the provocation, simply bowing down his head.
"Me? I don't know fear, Kaneda," I continued, feeling the cold, smooth surface of the bottle in my hand as I took a refreshing sip of the sparkling water that Kaneda had given me earlier. The tiny bubbles tingled on my tongue, mirroring the anticipation I felt within. "Those student council clowns? Heh. It's not like it's gonna be the first time that I've tangled with authority."
The metallic clang of the bottle hitting the desk punctuated my words, as I let my fingers dance across the cool surface, savoring the sensation. I felt alive.
Before I came here, my life was akin to a monotonous melody, a never-ending loop of the same notes, all culminating in my undisputed and dominating victory. The taste of power was as familiar to me as the sensation of air filling my lungs.
Now that I'm at this elite school, an intricate playground for me to conquer, a spark of excitement ignited within me. I relished the thought that this might be the challenge I needed to break the tedious pattern that had been my life.
Because above my desire for dominance, was my desire to meet a worthy foe. And this school of the elites... should have a couple of pests for me to play with.
"What... are you planning, Ryūen?" Kaneda asked, his voice trembling as he resolved himself to meet my gaze despite the fear I'd sensed from him.
"Plans, huh?" I said, a contemplative look showing on my face as I gazed out the window, watching the leaves on the trees outside rustling gently in the breeze.
"To dominate, of course," I continued, my contemplative look now replaced by a confident, if not provoking, smirk. "I intend to climb this mountain, and crush anyone who dares to stand in my way. And trust me, Kaneda, I'll enjoy every single moment of it."
2.1
Sakura Airi
June 29, 2015, Monday.
Connecting with others has always been a challenge for me. Maintaining eye contact during conversations felt like a herculean task, and the overwhelming nature of crowds often left me breathless.
I can't pinpoint when I became so hopeless, but that has been the reality of my life thus far.
Of course, despite the course that my life had taken, I was well aware that a person cannot live entirely in isolation. But just because I knew this fact didn't mean that I knew what to do about it. After all, this state of patheticness was all I knew throughout my life.
To be me was to be encased in a safe haven, a cocoon that craved no disturbance.
So I came up with a solution, one where I decided to adopt a false face and hide my true self. Though not entirely sincere, this facade allowed me to coexist with the world as an altered version of myself in this shadowy, desolate world.
The world is far from perfect, a fact we all recognize. And yet, we still yearn for that unblemished, idyllic haven deep within our hearts – a poignant contradiction.
In my moments of vulnerability, I can't help but wonder: Are others, too, shrouded behind their own masquerades? Or do they courageously reveal their true selves to the world? My inability to connect with others leaves me no way to unravel this mystery. And so, I continued my solitary existence.
I then told myself that I was content in my solitude.
I convinced myself that being alone was enough.
But beneath the layers of self-preservation, there lies a profound longing...
A yearning to connect with another soul... from the very depths of my heart, a longing that I had nearly dismissed as an unattainable fantasy for someone as hopeless as me.
But over a month ago, everything changed.
I had anticipated that my time at Advanced Nurturing High School would merely usher in another chapter of monotonous solitude. However, fate had other plans.
A subtle smile graced my lips.
Yes, that's right.
I encountered them...
The people who've splashed vibrant hues onto the canvas of my grayscale existence. The people who've acknowledged and accepted the true me...
The people, who began as strangers, but now... were my treasured friends.
"You deserve this, Airi," I muttered to myself, psyching myself up.
But just as I was about to place my camera in my preferred spot, I heard some noises coming from the other side of the hallway.
"What the hell do you two idiots want, eh? Kondo? Komiya?... and who's this ugly bastard?"
My eyes widened slightly as I recognized the familiar voice of Ken-kun.
What is happening?
I tried to peek a glance over what was happening, careful not to be noticed. Ken-kun was being confronted by three boys who looked unfamiliar to me. But from the informal tone Ken-kun was using, these boys were probably in the same year as us.
"Oi, who are you calling an ugly bastard, ya damned gorilla?!" Said one of the boys that confronted Ken-kun. This boy had matching dark-green hair and eyes and spoke in a gruff voice that reminded me of some of the delinquents from my junior high.
"You sure are being an arrogant shit, aren't ya?" He continued, glaring at Ken-kun, who matched his glare.
"He He! That's right, Ishizaki. This bastard sure is arrogant, isn't he?" A boy with a crew-cut hairstyle snickered.
"Hooo, what do you expect? This guy's probably over the moon since sensei had said he's considering making him a regular on the team," added the last boy of the group, a boy with shoulder-length brown hair.
"Hah! As if a monkey like him deserves that spot!" The other boy replied.
Why are they provoking Ken-kun? What had he done for him to earn the ire of these students?
Ken-kun scoffed at the trio before him, clicking his tongue in irritation. From my vantage point, I could see him clenching his fists, as if gathering every ounce of his anger.
This was a dangerous situation...
If Ken-kun chose to confront them all by himself, he would eventually be outnumbered and... mercilessly pummeled by the other students.
"Wanna say that again, ya bastards?!"
"Heh... heh... what are you going to do about it?"
"Are you going to try and punch us, Sudo? Try it. Try it, you bastard."
"Heh, stay back, Komiya, Kondo. I'll show you how it's done!" The dark-green-haired boy, Ishizaki, charged at Ken-kun, fists outstretched.
At that moment, I knew I couldn't stand idly by. For the sake of my newfound friends, I had to summon the courage to break free from my cocoon and confront the unknown. With a mixture of trepidation and determination, I stepped forward, prepared to cast off the shelter that had protected me for so long.
I needed to do this...
For one of my friends...
One of my treasured friends.
I emerged from my hiding spot, my voice wavering but resolute. "Stop it!"
As I mustered the courage to face the boys, confusion set in.
Why were they... panicking?
"What the hell?!"
"Where did she come from?!"
Ishizaki's fists halted in midair while Ken-kun gazed at me, bewildered.
"A...Airi?" he stammered in surprise.
My heart was beating so loud at the moment.
While I've managed to buy time for Ken-kun... who knows what these boys would do.
They might...
They might beat me up as well.
But... I remained resolute.
This was the choice I had made for myself... the choice to finally break free from the cocoon that had enveloped me.
"Who...the hell is that chick, Sudo?" the brown-haired boy demanded, panic evident in his eyes.
"She's my friend," Ken-kun replied, glaring at the boy before turning his head to me. "Airi, get outta here! I can handle these idiots just fine."
I grasped Ken-kun's clenched fist with both hands. Though our difference in strength rendered my efforts futile, I hoped my message would still reach him.
"T-That's not the point! Just st...stop this!" I pleaded with Ken-kun, who appeared uncertain about what to do.
"A...and you three," I addressed the other boys. "I...If you cause trouble... I'll... report you to the faculty."
I didn't know what came up to me at that very moment, bravely challenging delinquents who wouldn't have any difficulties in harming me, but my mind simply had one thing in mind: keeping one of my friends out of harm's way.
"Shit!"
"Ishizaki, what are we going to do?"
Ishizaki looked conflicted, gritting his teeth in frustration. "Didn't you idiots hear what that chick said? Let's just get out of here!"
Upon Ishizaki's orders, the three boys walked out of the building. But before they were out of earshot, Ken-kun yelled at them.
"Oi! Get back here and fight, you damned pussies! Why are ya all scared now, huh?"
"D-Don't goad them, Ken-kun!"
As Ishizaki and the others vanished from sight, Ken-kun picked up his bag and kicked the wall before turning to me, an apologetic expression crossing his face as he saw my wide-eyed gaze.
"A-ah... sorry about that, Airi. Those fucking assholes just pissed me off," he apologized. "But you didn't have to go through all that, ya know? I could beat up all those bastards, no problem."
Ken-kun grinned, his fists colliding, trying to assure me he could have handled himself.
"But... that's not the point," I paused, trying to think of the next words that would come out of my mouth. I had to be careful, because if I said the wrong words, I might incur his wrath instead.
"Kiyotaka-kun... Kiyotaka-kun had repeatedly talked to you about this... about keeping your cool," I continued. "He... would get disappointed if he knew you lashed out at people..."
"What?! You saw that those bastards started it, right?" Ken-kun countered, sounding indignant.
Then, the red-haired boy let out a sigh. "Sorry, Airi. I wasn't thinking clearly. I guess he would be..." Ken-kun continued.
I let out a sigh of relief upon hearing his words. Thank goodness that Ken-kun was able to listen to reason.
"Hey, let's head up to the Archery Club. Let's surprise that bastard Akito," Ken-kun suddenly said, smirking.
"E-Eh?! What for?"
"Food. The bastard owes me a home-cooked meal. I'm making him make one for you too!"
"Since wh...when did he owe you that favor?"
"Since he decided it was a great idea to snitch on you guys about the bet between Kayano and me. He's lucky I didn't punch him right away," Ken-kun answered before he walked away, not even giving me a chance to decline.
I stood there for a moment, dumbfounded by the unexpected turn of events. But then, as if guided by an unseen force, I found myself trailing Ken-kun.
And as I walked alongside Ken-kun, a smile crossed my face as the realization of what had gone down began sinking in.
I... did it.
I had intervened to protect one of my friends, and I... I hadn't cowered in fear.
2.2
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
As I sat in my dorm room with Yuki, my thoughts drifted back to the events of the previous weeks, with the soft hum of the air conditioning and Yuki's comforting humming providing a comforting backdrop.
It had been more than three weeks since the Karaoke Night/Post-Midterms Celebration with the Student Council, and things have surprisingly been calm since.
Despite the looming threat of Nagumo-senpai, it seemed like the blonde-haired boy was more than content to let me enjoy my peace a little longer. And instead of stepping into the lines of confrontation, our interactions had taken on a more amiable tone.
In fact, Nagumo-senpai had shown himself to be an interesting conversation partner who'd willingly share with me his perspectives on certain things. We've even shared dinner several times, with Asahina-senpai and Yuki standing by our sides.
From an outside perspective, it would look like we were out on a double date, but it would seem like Asahina-senpai was one of the 'unfortunate' few that haven't felt the touch of the blonde-haired playboy.
And to Nagumo-senpai's credit, I did enjoy the time I spent with him. It was a different dynamic compared to the time that I spent with Horikita-senpai.
Unlike the bespectacled boy, who was formal and oftentimes stiff, Nagumo-senpai was a natural in directing the flow of conversation, his charisma capable of moving people to continue interacting with him, and his wide array of knowledge over several topics only served to help his cause.
However, I knew better than to let my guard down around the merciless second-year dictator.
Although it appeared that Nagumo-senpai had decided not to treat me as an enemy for the time being, I knew there was more to his intentions than what met the eye.
Because from what I knew about my fellow Vice President, there was always an angle in everything that he did.
"You're deep in thought again, Kiyotaka," Yuki observed, giggling as she playfully poked my cheek with her index finger.
"Want to guess what I was thinking about?" I asked, turning my head to the blonde-haired girl.
Yuki's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she leaned in closer, her delicate fragrance wafting through the air, blending with the faint scent of the fabric softener on the cushions we sat on. "You and me kissing?" she cheekily asked.
"Not that, you idiot," I replied, shaking my head. "I was thinking about Nagumo-senpai. It's quite odd for him to invite us to what's basically a weekly get-together by this point."
Looking up at the ceiling, I mused, "With how our little game went, it wouldn't be out of the imagination for him to begin treating me like an enemy, but here we are."
"You're not actually confused about his intentions, are you?" Yuki asked, a hint of mockery in her tone. The subtle scent of her perfume drifted through the air as she spoke. "I bet you've already figured out his game."
My lips curved into a wry smile as I admitted, "You're right. I've had my suspicions, but I prefer not to jump to conclusions. There are two possible angles to this. He could either be trying to lull me into a false sense of security, or maybe he's genuinely interested in fostering a working relationship between us."
I stretched my arms, feeling the tension in my muscles release with a slight tingling sensation. The muted hum of the air conditioner filled the silence as I continued, "But... by now, everything should be obvious..."
"It's the first option—he's using these gatherings to uncover your weaknesses," Yuki interjected, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she flashed me a cheeky grin.
I gazed at the blonde-haired girl for a moment before shaking my head in exasperation.
"What?" Yuki asked, pouting. "I wanted to sound cool by predicting what you were thinking."
That being said, Yuki's answer was right on the money, but that was simply answering one of the several pieces of the puzzle.
Nagumo-senpai wasn't as ignorant as to employ a single-layered plan. Even three weeks ago, he had shown himself capable of carrying out multi-layered plans without fault.
First, he established the atmosphere of the Karaoke Box by masking the first steps of his plan through his outward excitement to get the show going. Then, he presented me with a 'harmless' challenge, presenting the situation as if both of us were going to deal with handicaps, skillfully hiding the fact that he had already rigged the competition in his favor.
This led to the final layer of his plan: trying to embarrass me by placing me in a place of presumed discomfort.
To sum it up, our Karaoke Battle from three weeks ago, which Nagumo-senpai skillfully presented as a friendly battle, was simply the arena of his ploy.
A ploy that covered these objectives:
1. To see my capacity to adjust to unfavorable situations;
2. To show me the gap between us;
3. To essentially exert his will over me;
4. To put me in a position of discomfort and trying to unravel whatever weaknesses he could discover; and
5. To simply enjoy messing with a freshman that he had come to see as a potential adversary.
While, of course, the entire set-up of that scheme was childish and, in a way, pointless, considering the low stakes of it, Nagumo-senpai's machinations that night provided me the tiniest glimpse of what he was capable of.
And even if his plan was ultimately turned against him, I've acknowledged that Nagumo-senpai is a dangerous foe, one that I cannot treat lightly.
I wasn't dealing with canon fodder, who simply served to pose a minor annoyance; I was facing a person who was self-assured in his abilities and had the mind and the will to utilize his abilities fully.
Unfortunately for me, I've gotten his full attention... and for the next few months, I'd be dealing with a person who was still contemplating whether he'd rather see me as a full-blown enemy that he wanted to crush or as a potential ally that he wanted to crush and dominate.
Nagumo-senpai was going to be annoying.
"Well, you're not entirely wrong," I finally replied to the blonde-haired girl, standing up from the couch and stretching my legs, feeling the plush carpet beneath my feet. "But there's more to it than that."
"What do you mean?" Yuki inquired, her curiosity piqued as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Nagumo-senpai is also testing the waters to see if he can sway me to his side," I explained, walking over to the fridge, its cool air washing over me as I opened the door to grab an ice cream popsicle.
"Is he delusional or something?" Yuki snorted, clearly amused. "With Horikita-senpai appointing you as the Second Vice President, it should already be obvious that it's only a matter of time until both of you are pitted against each other."
"But Nagumo-senpai isn't a person who'd think within the box. You know that," I replied, peeling the wrapper off the popsicle, revealing its vibrant colors. "He's the type of person who'd try to gauge if he could control another person."
"He certainly seems to have a control fetish," Yuki mused, whistling softly.
"I remembered the words he said to me over a month ago. That I should discern properly and join the 'winning side,' as he put it," I said, taking a bite of the popsicle, the cold sweetness spreading across my tongue.
Yuki looked at me, an amused expression on her face, her violet eyes sparkling with confidence. "Has anyone told him yet?"
"Told him about what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That your side is the winning side," Yuki replied, smirking confidently.
The blonde-haired girl then walked in my direction, her confident smirk remaining on her face, the gentle padding of her footsteps on the carpet barely audible.
Finally stopping in front of me, Yuki wrapped her arms around my neck, her violet eyes focused on my own. "Especially since I'm on your side," she whispered, her warm breath brushing against my face before she planted a soft, chaste kiss on my lips.
I looked at Yuki with amusement flickering in my eyes. This girl seemed to take every single opportunity there was to give me a kiss, and she wasn't even hiding it.
I didn't know exactly when Yuki got extremely physical and clingy, but I wasn't one to complain about things that I had come to enjoy.
"We'll see about that," I replied cryptically, the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the air. "After all, even the strongest weapons have weaknesses that could be exploited."
"What do you mean by that?" Yuki asked as she pulled away, her arms still loosely draped around my neck, the heat of her embrace still palpable.
"Always keep on your toes, Yuki," I advised, my hands cupping her cheeks, feeling the warmth of her skin. "Nagumo-senpai is not Kushida. He's dangerous."
"But he's not unbeatable," Yuki defiantly replied, leaning into my touch, her violet eyes shimmering with determination. "He's far from the toughest guy you've faced, Kiyotaka."
"True. But this isn't just about Nagumo-senpai and me, Yuki," I said, my gaze locked with hers. "You're also a potential target for his schemes. I need you to be careful."
Yuki sighed, the sound a soft exhale of air. "We sure have a long road ahead of us, don't we?" she rhetorically asked, her eyes reflecting a mix of worry and resolve.
"That would be an understatement," I replied, the comforting hum of the air conditioning in the background reminding us of the sanctuary our dorm room provided for now.
The muted sunlight filtering through the curtains cast a warm, golden glow on the room, creating a sense of tranquility. Then, just as Yuki and I were beginning to settle in, my phone vibrated, the sudden noise shattering the peaceful atmosphere.
Upon retrieving the phone from my pockets, its cool metal surface in my hand, I opened it and saw a notification from the "Ayanokōji Group" Group Chat.
"What is it, Kiyotaka?" Yuki curiously asked, her violet eyes shining with curiosity as she leaned closer, her warm breath gently brushing against my neck.
I didn't reply yet, opting to unlock my phone and checking the chat.
"It seems like Ken almost got into a fight with some Class D students," I replied, narrowing my eyes at the messages from the group chat, the soft glow of the phone screen casting eerie shadows on my face.
"And? What happened?" Yuki pressed, her voice tinged with concern as she bit her lower lip in apprehension.
"Airi, of all people, managed to stop the fight," I replied, my gaze still fixed on my phone as I felt the faint warmth of Yuki's presence beside me, her fingers brushing against mine.
"She did?" Yuki said in an amused voice, her laughter like music to my ears. "You sure are raising your kids well, Kiyotaka. I mean, Sakura-san does seem more confident these days."
While that may be true, this entire scenario had a suspicious air to it.
The whole set-up was a 3-on-1 battle, and it seemed unlikely that Airi, despite her growth, could realistically defuse such a tense situation.
Airi wasn't like Ichinose, who had the natural ability to take control of a scenario and calm people down with her charisma. She simply didn't possess that same skill set.
"There's something off about this," I muttered, my gaze still fixated on the chat. "Airi shouldn't be capable of diffusing a potential fight. Even if she summoned the courage to speak up, her voice lacks the calming effect that you and Ichinose possess. If Akito's claims about this Ishizaki guy being a delinquent are true, she would probably be ignored."
Reading through the chat, it started with Haruka asking how the group was doing, to which Akito responded by sending a picture of himself, Ken, and Airi together. That's when Airi revealed that Ken had almost gotten into a fight with three students, Kondo, Komiya, and Ishizaki—students from Class D.
Airi continued the chat, saying that she had somehow managed to defuse the situation, with Ken confirming her account. Akito then commented, "I was surprised that Ishizaki would just let it go. That bastard's pretty hot-headed too."
That was a red flag.
Yuki tilted her head, her expression shifting to one of seriousness. "You think Class D is finally making a move against us?"
"It's possible, but we can't be sure. We need more information," I replied. "I'll talk with Ken and Airi tomorrow to get a better understanding of the situation."
As I pocketed my phone, my thoughts drifted to something that I had heard from Ichinose.
Class D, led by its tyrannical leader, Ryūen Kakeru, had begun making moves as early as last week.
One of his initial ploys targeted Ichinose's Class C, and while it didn't amount to anything, the experience had unnerved Ichinose.
The entire ordeal felt like a test run. Ichinose believed that Ryūen was merely probing the defenses, unconcerned about whether he achieved victory or not.
In fact, Ryūen didn't even show himself during the incident, acting more like a puppet master content to let his subordinates do the work.
And if my suspicions ended up right, and they most probably are... Ryūen had decided it was now time to test my class.
I glanced up to the ceiling, gathering my thoughts, and a few seconds later, a shadow of a smile made its way to my face. "But you know, Yuki," I began, my voice low and contemplative, "if Class D is indeed planning to make a move against us, it might not be entirely bad news."
"How?"
I turned my head to Yuki, who had a confused look on her face.
"You'll see soon enough."
End of Chapter
A/N: This is basically just a set-up chapter to set the tone for what was to come.
I made the first scene into what was essentially a Dragon-boy introduction and made it that way just so he wouldn't look like a chump. I hope that did the job.
Also, this chapter basically gave a rundown about what had happened since the previous chapter and did so quickly. This was what I meant when I said that the Vol 2 Chapters would have a faster pace than the previous one, which took like 25 chapters.
See you in the next chapter! (A bookworm 'angel' is waiting for you guys there)