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 5.5 - Orchestrating the Play
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
As the clock struck half past seven, the evening had already unfurled its inky tendrils, stretching across the expansive sky and snuffing out the last vestiges of daylight. I sat comfortably in the sanctuary of my dorm room and nestled within the heart of the campus. My room was lit by the warm glow of a desk lamp, the light flickering off the walls, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere.
But I wasn't alone, as both Chiaki and Yuki were also in my dorm room and had just claimed their usual spots in my room—Yuki was lounging on my bed, propped up against the headboard, legs lazily sprawled across the soft quilt. At the same time, Chiaki had made herself comfortable cross-legged on the floor, her back resting against the sturdy wooden edge of my study desk.
The two of them were in my dorm room as I invited them to come over for us to discuss Ryūen's move for the upcoming trial. While my insights were grounded in speculation, there was a strong likelihood that Ryūen's actions would align closely, if not identically, with my predictions.
But before we could sink our teeth into that, Chiaki asked me why I was hurrying to leave after classes earlier. This prompted me to recount what had happened earlier with Ichinose, starting with her request during lunch break.
Upon sharing what had happened, I half-expected sparks of jealousy from the girls, but to my surprise, their reaction was quite the opposite— they simply found themselves amused over the whole thing.
"Wait, wait, wait! Let me get this straight," Yuki interjected, struggling to suppress her laughter. "So, you agreed to pretend to be Honami-chan's boyfriend... just to get back at her for that prank she pulled last month?"
"Yep," I confirmed, savoring a sip of the hot tea I'd just made. "I thought she deserved to get a taste of her own medicine."
Yuki burst out laughing, her mirth filling up the room. "Poor Honami-chan, she's gonna be up all night thinking about this! Geez, Kiyotaka, you can really be petty when you want to be."
"She deserved it," I defended, shrugging nonchalantly. "If you dish it out, you've got to be ready to take it."
"Can't argue with that," Yuki said, grinning. "Teasing Honami-chan is always a blast."
"Wow, you really weren't kidding when you said you won't be jealous of her, Yuki-chan," Chiaki interjected, sounding impressed. "Normally, you'd flip at the idea of Kiyotaka-kun pretending to kiss someone, even if he had no intention of actually doing it."
"Honami-chan is Honami-chan," Yuki responded, as though that explained everything. "I know she won't try to steal Kiyotaka away, and I know Kiyotaka enjoys toying with her."
"So why would I be jealous when there's no reason to be jealous?" Yuki challenged, her brows furrowing at Chiaki.
"Kiyotaka-kun, I'm seriously worried," Chiaki turned towards me, the concerned look on her face betrayed by the smile forming on the corners of her lips. "Are we sure this is Yuki-chan? She's acting way too calm. Saying absurd things like, 'No reason to be jealous'... who is this girl, and what has she done with Yuki-chan?"
"What a turn of events," I mused, my tone dry as I set my tea cup back on the coaster. "Are you sure you're feeling alright, Yuki? This is quite... unusual of you."
Yuki turned her head in my direction and pouted. "Stop teasing me. You know that I just can't feel jealous of Honami-chan. Maybe if you pull that trick on Horikita-san, I would be slightly jealous, but that's as far as it would go," she explained.
Ah, then it would be for the best if Yuki never found out about the jokes I tease Horikita with.
"Because... things are different now. You told Chiaki-chan that you'd pick me over her, so naturally, you'd pick me over everyone else. That's all the assurance I need, Kiyotaka. There's no use in being jealous of some girl who can't make you react as I can. Besides, a girl can change, can't she?" Yuki continued, flashing me a teasing grin.
Well, you do have a point there, Yuki. However, I doubt you've changed to the degree you claimed. Sure, you were most likely trying to change how you saw things... but to be this composed after just two months?
That was just unnatural.
"Should we believe her, Chiaki?" I asked, turning my head to the brown-haired girl who had an amused look on her face as she faced me.
"Hmm... we should! I think Yuki-chan would grow overconfident this way, and before she knows it, you'll prefer me over her," she replied, sending Yuki a smirk.
Yuki's eyes widened in playful indignation, and she shot Chiaki a mock glare. "Oh, you think so, do you? Well, Kiyotaka already made it clear that he prefers me over you, so good luck with that, Chiaki-chan."
Chiaki chuckled, not backing down from the banter. "We'll see about that, Yuki-chan. Kiyotaka-kun did say he wants both of us, you know? If you continue being greedy, you might lose him, fufu!"
"Ara? Are you saying you would be fine with sharing him, Chiaki-chan?" Yuki asked, arching an eyebrow. "You won't even try to take him for yourself? That's just sad."
Chiaki's playful expression turned thoughtful for a moment before she responded, "Oh, I won't deny that I would prefer having Kiyotaka-kun all to myself... but if he wants a harem, who am I to deprive him of the right?"
"Are we just going to pretend you weren't acting passive-aggressive towards Horikita-san last week because you felt threatened by her?" Yuki countered, giggling. "It seems to me you're still a little insecure, Chiaki-chan!"
"Hey, I didn't say I was perfect," Chiaki defended herself, chuckling softly. "I admit, I had a moment of weakness... but for the record, I wasn't threatened by Horikita-san. I was just... a bit uneasy about Kiyotaka-kun being close with her."
"We're all human, after all. We just can't help our feelings sometimes, especially when it comes to someone we... well, you know... love. You know this best, Yuki-chan," Chiaki finished, her gaze dropping to the floor beneath her.
The silence that followed was deafening; the room only filled with the faint hum of the desk lamp. Yuki seemed taken aback by Chiaki's blunt confession, obviously not expecting her to retort to her joke with a serious reply.
I watched Yuki closely. Her smile had faded and was replaced by a look of contemplation. She then turned to look at Chiaki, whose fingers were delicately tracing patterns on the smooth surface, lost in thought. Finally breaking the silence, Yuki spoke, her voice surprisingly softer than before.
"You're right, Chiaki-chan," she admitted, a note of understanding in her tone. "Sometimes... it's really hard to control what you feel, especially when it involves someone you love. I mean... you guys know just how jealous I could get whenever I feel like another girl is making a move on Kiyotaka."
"Which is made more ridiculous since the two of us aren't dating, Yuki," I quipped, trying to lighten the mood.
"Shhh, we don't need your smart-ass comments right now, Kiyotaka! And for the record, I am your future wife, so you should just come to terms with that," Yuki replied, sticking her tongue out.
"Bold of you to assume that I'll simply accept my fate," I replied. "My whole journey is all about rejecting the notion of fate, or did you forget?"
"What's there not to accept?" Yuki asked, a playful glint in her eyes. "Don't you want a future with me, Kiyotaka? And didn't you say to Chiaki-chan that you would pick me over her? While you're not in love with me yet, there's no denying you feel something for me."
"You're certainly not lacking in confidence," I retorted with a wry smile, subtly defusing her argument without outright denying it.
Yuki had a point; there was some level of affection between us. But stating it aloud, as if it was a set-in-stone future fact? That was the kind of commitment I wasn't ready to make yet.
After all, I was still grappling with my feelings.
Kōenji was right. I knew how I felt toward Yuki and Chiaki— I wanted them to stay by my side— but I was at a crossroads of what I wanted to do with these feelings.
Because a polygamous relationship, although looking like an easy solution... was just something that I hadn't considered to be an actual possibility.
After all, this world wasn't some manga or light novel where something like a harem could work, and even in those literary works, the polygamous relationship had terrible execution.
...
It would be delusional to think that I could manage several girls simultaneously.
Yuki giggled, taking me out of my thoughts, "And here you are again, lost in your own world, Kiyotaka," she chided, her gaze softening as she looked at me. "You're overthinking things. As always."
"Strange to hear that coming from you," I countered.
"You know what they say? It takes one to know one, Kiyotaka," Yuki replied, winking at me. "Well, don't feel too pressured about whatever you're thinking about. Hearing this from me might be strange, but sometimes, you just need to go with the flow and let things happen. We're still teenagers, you know?"
A sudden giggle broke the sudden serious atmosphere, and we both turned to find Chiaki, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Yup, that settles it. You're not Yuki-chan. Our Yuki-chan has never been this mature... only jealous and devious. Who are you, and what have you done with Yuki-chan?" she joked, causing Yuki to roll her eyes in response.
"Hey, even I can have moments of maturity, Chiaki-chan," Yuki replied, her voice laced with feigned exasperation. "And, well... I've been learning a lot lately. About myself, about Kiyotaka, and about how I feel about everything."
"Also, if I stayed the way I was, then Kiyotaka won't ever fall in love with me, and there's no way I'm letting that happen," she continued.
She turned her gaze back to me, an earnest glimmer in her eyes that seemed to be pleading for my agreement.
I met her gaze and found myself momentarily lost in the depth of her emotion before responding, "I suppose that's true. But Yuki, don't feel the need to change who you are just for me. We talked about this two months ago. I want you to do it because that's what you want for yourself, not because of what I want."
Yuki chuckled, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. "Well, Kiyotaka, you've got the correct idea, but it's bold of you to assume I'm doing this solely because of you."
"Of course, I want you. But my change... or at least, the tiniest hint of change in me was because I wanted this for myself. I kinda feel pathetic throwing a hissy fit toward all the girls who I think are interested in you, you know? And it makes me a little guilty, too," she continued.
"That reminds me... poor Horikita-san," Chiaki said, giggling. "You were so mad at her when she said no when you wanted to swap seats because you thought she developed a crush on Kiyotaka-kun."
"Sure, I might have overreacted, but was I wrong when I said she has a crush on Kiyotaka?" Yuki countered, arching an eyebrow.
I let out a sigh upon hearing Horikita being brought up again. Yuki sure acted like Horikita had developed a crush on me on the first day of school... which was pretty unlikely.
"Horikita is too focused on proving herself to Horikita-senpai to even have a crush on someone," I pointed out, my gaze flicking between Chiaki and Yuki.
"Shut it, Kiyotaka," Yuki said, rolling her eyes. "We're all aware of how Horikita treats you differently than the rest of us."
"I know, but that's purely out of respect and the fact that her older brother acknowledges my abilities. And the two of you knew how heavily she values the opinion of her brother," I countered, but she merely waved me off dismissively.
"Do you even hear yourself?" Yuki replied, sighing. "While I'm not too fond of the idea of her liking you, I also don't like hearing you pretend as if you don't know that Horikita-san has a crush on you."
...Which was probably my fault, to be honest. I really shouldn't have gone overboard with all the marriage jokes that I made.
But with how she usually reacted to jokes like that, could anyone really blame me?
It was fun teasing Horikita.
"Look," Chiaki interjected, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Whether Horikita-san has a crush on Kiyotaka-kun or not is irrelevant to our conversation right now."
"But it isn't irrelevant to me!" Yuki countered, crossing her arms over her chest and huffing. "Since Kiyotaka is trying to play blind, it's about time we tell him everything we have noticed. So he can get it into his skull that Horikita-san is crushing on him."
She was still the same overly jealous girl, alright.
But I suppose it was good to know she was putting in the effort to hold it in and not lash out without reason.
"You... sound really invested in this discussion, Yuki-chan," Chiaki replied in a dry tone. "I suppose I should be relieved since you're still... the same old jealous Yuki-chan. You almost scared me earlier with all the mature talk, you know?"
"Like I said... I have my moments, and don't poke fun of me, Chiaki-chan!" Yuki protested, crossing her arms in a huff. "You're getting back at me for calling you out earlier, aren't you? Don't think I haven't noticed that weird glint in your eyes, Chiaki-chan!"
As Yuki defended herself, I glanced at the clock on the wall, noticing that the hands had swept well past eight o'clock. The conversation had swept us away, and the original purpose of this meeting was left in the dust.
"Speaking of noticing things," I interjected, redirecting the conversation, "we still have to talk about Ryūen's possible move for the upcoming trial."
"Ah, that's right! We got completely sidetracked!" Chiaki exclaimed, immediately straightening up. "Hmm... let's blame Yuki-chan for this since she got really weird!"
"Why am I the one to blame?" Yuki protested, a sharp glare directed towards Chiaki. "It's your fault for making such a big deal out of my words earlier."
"Nonsense, Yuki-chan! That was a normal reaction," Chiaki responded, casually waving her hand.
Her attention then swiftly turned towards me, leaving Yuki to stew in her discontent. "So, Kiyotaka-kun, what are your thoughts? Do you think he will follow your predictions?"
"Most likely, but even if he doesn't, what I have in mind is the best move that he could make, so it would be for the best if we're prepared for it," I replied.
"What do you think his general move would be, Kiyotaka?" Yuki asked, her face looking serious.
"To make us look like the villains. After all, Ryūen pretty much knows they're going to lose this trial. But he's not just going to stand still and take it. He'll want to take a small victory somehow, and this is how he'll try to do it," I began.
From there, we discussed the upcoming trial, mapping out possible strategies and counter-strategies for whatever Ryūen might throw at us.
When the discourse gradually came to an end, Chiaki and Yuki looked towards me. The former's eyes held a glint of shock, as if my speculations had stirred the calm water of her mind. Yuki, on the other hand, wore an amused, almost intrigued expression.
"Kiyotaka-kun... aren't you overestimating Ryūen?" Chiaki finally asked, the words seeming to linger in the air after they left her lips. "I know he's crafty... but can he even pull off something like that?"
I studied Chiaki for a few quiet moments before reclining in my seat, a thoughtful gaze in my eyes. "I wonder... was I really overestimating him... or are you underestimating him?"
A tyrant, regardless of how ruthless, could still command the respect of his subjects — that's the reason they stay unchallenged for a long time.
While I still hold the belief that Ryūen wasn't a threat to me, there still existed the possibility that he could catch us off-guard, so underestimating him would be a foolish move to make.
That being said, I cannot have him thinking that I have acknowledged his efforts, as this would be tantamount to him believing that he had a mental edge over me. To people like Ryūen, who strived to provoke and unsettle people, a crushing defeat while remaining unacknowledged was bound to affect them psychologically.
This was why I ultimately opted to play this out from behind the scenes, and besides, Chiaki was more than capable of doing what I expected her to do.
"All I can say is... trust in me, Chiaki. I guarantee that Ryūen is capable of what I have shared with you. But as impressive as his counter can be... he's still at a massive disadvantage, and you will be the one bringing us the victory here," I continued.
"You can be really persuasive when you want to, Kiyotaka-kun," Chiaki sighed, a small, wry smile playing on her lips. "Well, if Ryūen really is that formidable, then we'll just have to be even better, won't we?"
"That's the spirit, Chiaki," I replied, smiling at her. "Now, I want you to meet with Horikita tomorrow and tell her everything we've talked about. Feel free to discuss between yourselves how you girls would like to deal with the case."
5.5.1
After class the next day, I found myself in the library sitting next to Shiina, who was extremely happy when she saw me drop by.
My initial intention had been to return three of the books I had borrowed earlier in the week. However, just as I was preparing to leave, I caught sight of Shiina's enthusiastic wave, followed by a cheerful invitation to join her.
And while I could have easily said no, Shiina had this expectant look on her face that would have made me feel guilty if I declined her invitation. Thus, I found myself acquiescing, settling next to her amidst the rows of bookshelves.
"You must have really liked the Lord Peter series if you finished the first three books in under a week," Shiina noted, her giggle chiming like a small, delicate bell in the spacious library. "Maybe you should have heeded my advice and borrowed all eleven books?"
"Shiina... that's just too excessive. Who even borrows eleven books all at once?" I retorted, shaking my head with a mild sense of incredulity at her seemingly endless enthusiasm for books.
Shiina's laughter echoed softly against the library's towering shelves. "Well, I did," she confessed, a sheepish smile illuminating her face. "When I'm engrossed in a series, I just can't help myself."
"And you read them all?"
"Of course!" Shiina's eyes widened, as if the thought of not reading a book she borrowed was an alien concept. "Books are like gateways to different worlds; once I start a journey, I like to see it to the end."
What an interesting choice of words considering the books I saw her borrow the last time I saw her...
"I see... so how was your journey traversing the word of "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty," Shiina?" I asked, glancing at the silver-haired girl.
I still struggled to grapple with the fact that an innocent-looking girl like Shiina Hiyori was one to indulge herself in perverted books like the one she had borrowed. And while I haven't read "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty," the synopsis was enough to tell me what type of book it was.
Like I said before, you really cannot judge a book by its cover.
Shiina blinked, an unfazed smile playing on her lips. "Oh, that?" she asked, her voice holding no trace of embarrassment. "It was...quite an unusual experience. I'd say it was like exploring an entirely different world."
She then tilted her head, her silver hair shimmering under the library's fluorescent lighting. "You know, people often have a lot of misconceptions about books like those," she mused. "They assume that just because a book contains certain adult themes, it's automatically perverse. But really, it's a study of human nature and desire, of power dynamics and liberation. It's a unique and intriguing exploration."
She paused for a moment, her violet eyes meeting mine with a steady, knowing gaze. "Don't get me wrong, Ayanokōji-kun. I'm aware of what I'm reading. But indulging my curiosity and trying to understand different perspectives... does it make me a pervert?"
The moment Shiina posed her question, the library fell into an even deeper silence, if that was even possible. I regarded her, amused by the unabashed frankness of her words. Shiina was nothing if not an enigma, her wide-eyed innocence often belying her uncanny ability to dive into complex topics, often those that many would find taboo or embarrassing to discuss.
"No," I began, choosing my words carefully. "Curiosity doesn't make you a pervert, Shiina. It's natural to want to explore and understand different facets of human nature. And if books offer that avenue, then there's nothing wrong with that."
She nodded, her face radiating satisfaction at my response. "I'm glad you think so, Ayanokōji-kun. Many people are quick to pass judgement, but the world isn't black and white, is it?"
Her question seemed rhetorical, and I didn't respond. Instead, I watched as Shiina pulled out another book from her bag, seemingly engrossed in the blurb on its back cover. "The world is filled with shades of gray, and I believe it's important to explore those areas too."
...
Did Shiina just use a metaphor about the world being filled with shades of gray while extracting a copy of "Fifty Shades of Gray" from her backpack?
"I see you've noticed my next book," Shiina said, her gaze moving from the book to me. She held up the novel, the cover depicting an unassuming gray tie, the symbol that had become synonymous with the erotic trilogy.
"Fifty Shades of Grey," she confirmed, an unfazed smile tugging at her lips. "I picked it up when you left. It would be a waste for quality literature to remain unopened, don't you think?"
Ah... that reminded me.
When Shiina and I first met last week, she spotted me holding onto the same book and struck up a conversation with me.
I shook my head in amusement.
Since Shiina picked up the exact book that I left behind, she was definitely waiting for the opportunity to pull this joke on me. The impeccable timing, the thoughtfully weaved metaphor about the world being filled with shades of gray — it had been a deliberate setup from the very beginning.
"That... was quite the elaborate joke, Shiina," I said, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
Shiina blinked at me innocently, a playful twinkle in her violet eyes. "Oh, did you think it was a joke, Ayanokōji-kun?" she asked, the corner of her lips curving upwards. "I was merely speaking the truth. But I'm glad you found it amusing."
I eyed her suspiciously, a chuckle escaping my lips. Even after this reveal, she was still playing innocent.
"I can't deny that, but you also cannot deny that you've been setting up that joke for almost a week," I countered. "That must be why you were looking forward to seeing me back in the library."
Shiina laughed, her silver hair bouncing lightly as she nodded. "Mhm-mm! But not entirely. As I said, no one in Class D enjoys reading, so I didn't really have anyone to talk to. Now that you're here, that shouldn't be a problem anymore," she replied.
"Is that so? You don't even care that I'm the leader of a rival class?" I followed up.
It was obvious that she didn't care at all, given she was already aware of who I was. Nonetheless, I couldn't help but be curious about her genuine thoughts. People like her were bound to be interesting, after all.
Shiina seemed to ponder over my words, her fingers absently tracing the edges of the book in her lap. "Ah, I see," she mused, her violet eyes staring at something beyond me. "Yes, I suppose with how this school is structured, we're supposed to be rivals. However..."
She paused, meeting my gaze. "Just because we belong to different classes doesn't mean we can't enjoy a good story together, does it? Besides... I'm not really interested in conflict. I would rather have everyone battle without outright hostility."
"But I know that's just not happening. Still, it would be nice to see, right?" Shiina continued.
ANHS was structured in such a way that instigated rivalry between classes, fostering competition as a form of motivation, a call that was heeded by the student body to the point they would be driven to employ morally questionable strategies to one-up each other.
Of course, they couldn't be entirely blamed for this, as the administration of ANHS declared that only those who graduated in Class A would have their futures guaranteed, officially instigating the battle amongst Japan's "elites."
With that established, Shiina's view was so utterly detached from it all, which was refreshing in a peculiar way. She was well aware of the stakes but simply didn't want to conform to the negatives that had become the norm here.
It was almost similar to Ichinose, but I could tell that Shiina wasn't as idealistic as her.
"That's a unique way to look at things," I admitted, settling back into my chair. I watched as Shiina, with her ever-present, pleasant smile, flipped open her book and began reading, apparently at ease amidst the silent, towering bookshelves. "And quite an interesting book to read in the open."
Her eyes glanced at me over the top of the book. "I guess so... but you won't judge me for reading it, will you, Ayanokōji-kun?"
The question hung in the air between us, and I found myself shaking my head. "No, Shiina," I replied. "I won't."
She nodded, looking pleased. "Good," she said, before burying her nose back into the book.
The silence of the library fell over us again. Shiina was engrossed in her new book, seemingly content in her own world, oblivious... or rather, uncaring to the curious glances thrown her way by passing students.
"By the way, Ayanokōji-kun," she spoke, snapping me from my thoughts. "I hope you will also finish the entire Lord Peter series. The journey is fascinating, and I would love to know what you think about it."
I glanced at the persistent girl, shaking my head at her relentless enthusiasm. "Alright, Shiina. If you insist," I conceded, the edges of my lips curling into a soft smile. "I'll borrow the rest of the series next time... but only one at a time."
She nodded, looking extremely pleased with my answer. "Excellent," she replied, her eyes sparkling with joy. "And maybe one day, you can even read this," she said, lightly tapping the cover of "Fifty Shades of Grey."
"Why? Do you want to recreate one of the scenes there with me?" I countered, not flinching at her attempt to embarrass me.
Shiina's eyes widened a fraction, her eyebrows arching upwards before a giggle slipped past her lips. "Hmm... to think you would be this forward towards a girl you've only met twice," she replied.
I tilted my head, my expression remaining impassive. "Was I? I thought you were the one being forward, Shiina."
"You're shifting the blame now?" Shiina fired back, giggling. "I'm not the one who introduced the idea of recreating one of the scenes there, you know? All I did was encourage you to embrace different facets of life and broaden your understanding of the world."
"Where you preached about erotica and were carrying an erotic book," I pointed out.
Shiina nodded. "While carrying erotica, yes. But that doesn't make my point invalid, does it? Even provocative literature can reveal hidden truths worth exploring."
"Oh, and if you change your mind about reading these books, we can discuss these themes together. I'll be willing to share my insights with you," she continued.
"Just discussing them? And here I thought you were adventurous, Shiina. Exploring those hidden truths... meant exploring them thoroughly, you know?" I replied, gently lifting Shiina's chin with my thumb.
Kōenji said this was a good method to fluster girls, but while it seemed like it worked on Shiina, it wasn't enough to catch her off-guard.
...
Impressive.
Shiina blinked at my touch, a flush creeping onto her cheeks. For a moment, I thought I had succeeded in disconcerting her. But then, she regained her composure faster than I had expected. That faint blush didn't disappear, but her gaze remained unwavering. She looked up at me, her lips curled into a small smile, her eyes gleaming with a peculiar spark.
"Oh, is that what you're interested in, Ayanokōji-kun?" she inquired, her tone playful, but there was something else. An undertone of confidence, perhaps. "Exploring them thoroughly, you say?"
I nodded, maintaining my nonchalant composure despite the sudden flip in our conversation's tone. "Of course. One should be thorough in their pursuit of knowledge, don't you think?"
Shiina's giggle filled the space between us. She leaned away from my touch, folding her hands over the book that sat on her lap. "I agree with you, Ayanokōji-kun," she responded, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Thoroughness is indeed key in the pursuit of knowledge."
"But remember," she added, wagging a finger at me. "There's a time and place for everything. Since we're in a library, it's only proper to limit ourselves to a discussion here."
"I understand, but discussing a controversial book in a school library isn't exactly what people would deem proper etiquette, wouldn't you agree?"
The silver-haired girl chuckled at my response, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "And joking about enacting a scene from an erotic novel is also considered quite improper, don't you think?"
I shrugged, unable to argue against her point. "Touche," I conceded.
"See? And so, we can't let the fear of what others might think prevent us from engaging in intellectual discourse about books like these. You agree with me, right?"
"I do," I agreed, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth. I could see what Shiina had wanted to happen; she really wanted to talk about the taboo topic of erotica and her nuanced takeaways from the subject.
It wasn't particularly funny, but it was amusing to see her trying to steer the conversation to a topic she wanted to discuss.
She really wasn't kidding when she said she had been waiting to talk about books with someone else.
"And an intellectual discourse can take many forms," Shiina continued, her gaze now on the pages of the controversial book in her hand. "It's not always about the plot, the setting, or the characters. Sometimes, it's about the emotions, the conflicts, the hidden desires."
Somehow, someway, Shiina Hiyori didn't feel like a pervert despite her eagerness to talk about erotica.
Instead, it... just sounded educational.
"While I haven't exactly read such books before, I could understand your perspective. Since you simply like everything literature, you must have read such books simply to sate your curiosity on the perspective it brings and its contrast to more conventional books."
"Exactly, Ayanokōji-kun!" Shiina exclaimed, her face lighting up with excitement.
Her fingers danced over the cover of the book in her hand, tracing the shape of the iconic gray tie. "It's unfortunate how hastily some people judge these books without even giving them a fair chance. There's so much to learn from them if only we look beyond the established stigmas," she continued.
Quite the defense there, Shiina.
"I can tell that you're genuinely passionate about this," I said, not being able to hide my amusement at her dedication. "How do you handle the judgemental looks and comments you might get?"
"Oh... no one has actually judged me on it yet. You're the first person who found out that I read erotica, you know?" Shiina replied, giggling. "I guess I just got excited seeing another person in the erotica section that I ended up exposing myself."
"But even if people found out and started judging me, I wouldn't care," Shiina shrugged, her smile unwavering. "People always judge, Ayanokōji-kun. They judge what they don't understand. I believe it's more important to stand by your interests and beliefs rather than worrying about what others might think."
Her answer was simple, and yet it held a profound understanding of the world.
"I see," I said, my lips curling into a smile. "You really are quite unique, Shiina."
Her violet eyes flickered up to meet mine. "Is that so? You don't find me odd?" she asked, an amused glint in her eyes.
"I wouldn't say odd," I corrected. "I think intriguing is a more accurate description."
Shiina blinked, a genuine smile stretching across her face. "Intriguing, huh?" she mused, her gaze softening. "I'll take that as a compliment, Ayanokōji-kun."
"As you should," I replied, my smile matching hers.
And for the next hour and a half, we sat there in the library, discussing everything from the Lord Peter series to other less controversial topics. Every now and then, Shiina would circle back to her favorite subject - the hidden truths and themes found in unconventional books.
She... really was something.
Unorthodox, straightforward, and unapologetically herself, Shiina was a breath of fresh air in this school. And while that was not too different from the demeanor of girls like Yuki and Chiaki, people like them were far too few in number.
After a few more minutes of relishing the tranquil embrace of the library, I finally stood up, readying myself to depart. However, just as I was about to make my exit, Shiina's soft voice stopped me. "Leaving already?"
I nodded my head. "I still have some things to do before the sun sets," I replied.
"I see. Will you be back tomorrow, Ayanokōji-kun?"
I paused, glancing back at her, her violet eyes bright with anticipation. "Yeah," I responded. "I'll be back, Shiina."
Shiina smiled brightly at me. "Then, I'll be looking forward to that, Ayanokōji-kun."
"Oh, and before you leave, "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club" is waiting for you," she continued, a mischievous giggle escaping her lips as she noticed my slight head shake.
As I stepped out of the library, I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, as weird as it sounded. Despite her unconventional literature choices, Shiina was a stimulating conversation partner.
My gaze then lingered on the library, shifting from Shiina, who had once again become engrossed in her chosen book, to the array of books lining the shelves...
I guess I would be borrowing the fourth book, after all.
5.5.2
Upon bidding farewell to Shiina, I made my way back to my dorm room, expecting a surprise awaiting me. As anticipated, Yuki was perched on my bed, looking as if she'd never been anywhere else.
Despite expecting her presence, I couldn't help but sigh.
Earlier, I had gathered Yuki, Chiaki, Horikita, Ken, and Airi in my dorm room for a meeting scheduled at 5:30 PM. Our agenda? To plan our strategy for tomorrow's trial.
Given Yuki and I had roles on the Student Council, we were restricted to offering guidance and directives without direct involvement. Consequently, the privacy of my dorm seemed an apt choice for our meeting ground.
"Didn't I confiscate your keycard?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.
"And didn't you know I could just buy another one?" Yuki cheekily replied.
"We already talked about the keycards, Yuki..."
Yuki chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, come on, Kiyotaka. You know I can't resist the temptation of seeing you whenever I want."
"That... makes no sense, especially when I'm not in my room," I countered.
Her shoulders moved in a carefree shrug, the playful smile on her face not dimming in the slightest. "Details, details. I just like being here, in our little sanctuary, even if you're not around. It feels like a piece of you is always with me."
"A text message notifying me of your presence here would have been appreciated," I grumbled.
Her expression shifted, her grin morphing into a playful pout. "But where's the fun in that? Isn't it thrilling to find me here, patiently waiting for your return?"
"Also, you took way too long to return to your dorm. No way I'm waiting outside your door," she continued.
"It's not my fault you arrived early. I said 5:30 PM, didn't I?" I pointed out, my gaze falling on the wall clock. "It's still 5:10 PM."
She brushed off my comment with a wave of her hand. "Time is relative, Kiyotaka. Besides, I wanted to make sure I had some quality alone time with you before the meeting starts."
Resigned, I closed the door, a sigh escaping me as I faced her again. "You're an idiot. But I guess I'll let you off this time."
... Because what was I even supposed to do here? Be angry?
That would be a waste of time.
Yuki's grin widened, a triumphant glimmer in her eyes. "I knew you couldn't resist me for too long," she teased, scooting over on the bed to make room for me.
"Come here," she beckoned, patting the spot beside her.
"Priorities, Yuki. First, I need to shelve this book," I replied, showing her the book I had just borrowed from the library.
"You've got another Sayers book," Yuki remarked, her eyes focused on the book in my hand.
"You know about Sayers?" I inquired.
"Not entirely, but I noticed three Sayers books on your bookshelf last night, and this one's new," she clarified. "Someone recommended them to you?"
I walked to the bookshelf, placing the book in its designated spot. "Yes. Shiina Hiyori recommended them to me," I replied, glancing back at Yuki.
Yuki raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Shiina? Hmm... familiar name. Is she from Class D?"
I nodded, returning to the bed and sitting down beside Yuki. "That's right. Quite unexpected, isn't it? Considering we're about to face their class tomorrow," I replied.
Yuki's head found a resting spot on my shoulder, her expression contemplative. "What does she look like again?"
"Pretty sure she's the only silver-haired girl from the profile Chiaki had compiled," I replied, stretching my legs out.
"Silver-haired girl? That's... that's the prettiest girl from that class!" Yuki exclaimed, her eyes widening.
As I rotated my head to regard her, I found myself playfully provoking Yuki. "Are you jealous, Yuki?"
Yuki chuckled, looking at me in amusement. "Should I be?"
"Well, she did recommend some interesting books, so maybe I've found a 'book buddy.'"
"That's fine. You're allowed to have your life outside me, you know? And besides, should I even be jealous of another girl when you've all but declared that you would choose me over any girl?"
"You're acting like you're my girlfriend already."
"And you're not exactly discouraging me, are you, Kiyotaka?"
Without warning, Yuki's hands found my cheeks. "Especially when I do something like this," and in a swift motion, the blonde-haired girl's lips met mine.
Caught in Yuki's spontaneous action, my initial surprise quickly dissolved into familiar acceptance. This wasn't the first time she had taken the liberty to steal a kiss from me. Her audaciousness had been an element of surprise at first, but now, it was just another testament to her unabashed affection.
I could feel her lips moving against mine, conveying a playful insistence that I was well accustomed to. A moment passed before she pulled away, a triumphant smirk dancing on her lips.
"There. Does that remind you of anyone's girlfriend?" Yuki teased, her fingers still cradling my cheeks.
"Behaving like one doesn't necessarily make you one, Yuki," I retorted calmly, pulling away from her grip and shifting my gaze to the bookshelf.
"Such a tease, aren't you?" Yuki giggled, nudging my shoulder lightly.
"That said, we need to focus. There's a meeting we have to prepare for. And since you're already here, help me set this place up," I ordered before I stood up from the bed.
"Can't I get one more kiss?" Yuki 'pleaded,' pouting.
"Negotiations later, Yuki. Let's get ready for the meeting first," I said, suppressing a smile as I glanced over my shoulder at her. I walked over to the small table across the room, clearing it off in preparation for our discussion.
With a sigh, Yuki rolled her eyes but followed suit. She hopped off the bed and began helping me set up the room. In between arranging chairs and clearing away clutter, she kept stealing glances at me. I couldn't help but chuckle at her antics. For all her audaciousness, there was an underlying sweetness to her actions.
"Just for the record, Kiyotaka, that was a yes," she said suddenly, grinning mischievously. "After this meeting, you owe me a kiss."
"I didn't agree to anything," I countered, but the small smile on my face belied my words. "But sure, I'll kiss you after the meeting. Just get back to work."
She responded with a victorious smirk, her eyes alight with satisfaction. "A promise is a promise, Kiyotaka. Don't you dare forget, okay?"
"I wouldn't dream of it, Yuki," I replied, focusing my attention back on the preparations. "Remember, we're on a timeline."
"Got it, boss," Yuki mock saluted before turning her attention back to her task. With Yuki's assistance, we had soon set up the room to my satisfaction.
As 5:30 PM rolled around, our other team members started arriving.
First was Chiaki and Horikita, followed by Ken and Airi... and from the looks of it, it seemed like Airi had to drag Ken out from basketball practice if his sweaty clothes were any indicator.
"I'm surprised you were able to drag him out, Airi," I pointed out, glancing at her and then at Ken, who was rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"Ah, my bad, Kiyotaka. I got totally caught up in practice, you know? Time just slipped away from me," Ken admitted, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "But hey, it's a good thing Airi showed up to save the day, right?"
"Well... I just did... what I needed to do, Kiyotaka-kun," Airi shyly replied, her eyes shifting to all the other people inside the room. "I... wouldn't want Ken-kun and me to burden everyone else with our tardiness."
"You really should learn from Sakura-san, Sudo-kun," Horikita chimed in, her gradient red eyes glancing pointedly at Ken.
"We arrived in time, didn't we? I don't see what's yer problem," Ken countered, glaring back at the dark-haired girl.
"I do not have a problem. I'm simply pointing out how you should emulate Sakura-san's concern for others," Horikita retorted, her gaze unflinching.
"Bah! I'm pretty sure you're still pissy because of what I said a few months ago. Get over it," Ken replied.
"Enough about that. I would rather not have you two idiots continue arguing," I sighed before motioning for the group to sit at the table. "Let's just start this meeting, alright?"
As I made my way to the table, I couldn't help but shake my head in amusement upon hearing Horikita mutter, "I'm... not an idiot."
She really needs to take jokes in stride.
"Horikita-san, Sudo-kun, take a seat. The sooner we start, the earlier we finish," Chiaki said as she settled at the table. Her comment effectively ended the argument between Ken and Horikita.
Both begrudgingly took their seats opposite each other, their glares softening to glares of resignation. Chiaki glanced over at me and offered a nod of appreciation. She seemed grateful for my intervention.
Just as Ken and Horikita sat down, Yuki, having distributed food and drinks for everyone, made her way to the table and sat down next to me. The meeting was about to begin.
"Before we begin, have you and Horikita talked about what I shared with you last night, Chiaki?" I asked the brown-haired girl, who nodded her head.
I then turned my head to Horikita, who offered a nod of her own. "Matsushita-san had oriented me about it, Ayanokōji-kun," she affirmed.
"Great! That means we can wrap this up sooner than expected," I said, nodding my head in approval.
"Since Chiaki and Horikita are already well aware of what I wanted them to do, all that's left is for both Airi and Ken to be prepared for what would happen tomorrow," I paused, my eyes shifting from Ken and then to Airi.
"That... sounds rather scary... Kiyotaka-kun," Airi murmured.
Chiaki chuckled at her words and gently patted the back of the pink-haired girl seated to her left. "Don't worry, Sakura-san! It's not that scary. Kiyotaka-kun simply wanted to sound dramatic."
"I... guess I can see that," Airi replied.
"Haah... please don't paint me as some sort of guy who finds happiness in tormenting people, Chiaki," I sighed.
"Sorry, Kiyotaka-kun, I couldn't resist," she laughed, unapologetic. "And besides, am I wrong?"
"Definitely not!" Ken chimed in, laughing. "That bastard is sadistic enough to make us go over so much review material and not even think twice about doing so."
"Because you would fail otherwise, Ken," I countered. "But we're getting off-topic now. Let's focus."
"To be frank, the biggest weakness we have tomorrow wouldn't be our defense, but rather... how both Airi and Ken would react to what Class D would be plotting tomorrow," I said, getting straight to the matter at hand.
"Wait? What do you mean by that, Kiyotaka?" Ken asked, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"Exactly what I meant, Ken. I believe in you and Airi and trust in you guys to help us win this case, but you guys aren't exactly the epitome of composure."
"Ken, you have a really short fuse when someone argues with you. What happened earlier between you and Horikita is proof of that," I began, glancing at Ken.
My eyes then shifted to Airi, and the pink-haired girl met my eyes bravely, although she was shaking quite a bit.
But that was an improvement to how she was a couple of months ago.
"As for you, Airi... you might be overwhelmed by anxiety when they would try to corner you tomorrow," I continued.
"I... I guess you're right there," Airi murmured, glancing down.
"But who said anything about letting you guys have a disadvantage? We're here to prepare you for what might come your way," Yuki interjected, smirking.
I have to admit... I'm quite jealous of Yuki's naturally cheerful voice. She had the type of voice that could effortlessly rally people together to work for a shared cause.
"Of course, knowing what would happen and the same things actually happening are different arenas, but I think that you guys would be able to react better if you've expected what they're going to dish out," I clarified.
Ken and Airi exchanged glances, the weight of tomorrow's trial starting to settle upon them. Ken scratched the back of his head, contemplating my words, while Airi took a deep breath, summoning her resolve.
"That makes sense," Ken finally spoke up, his voice tinged with determination. "If we know what they're going to throw at us, we can be prepared to counter it."
Airi nodded, her trembling subsiding slightly. "I... I'll do my best, Kiyotaka-kun. I won't let them shake me."
"Good," I replied, offering them both a reassuring smile. "Since we're all on the same page now, let's move on. For tomorrow's trial, here's what I think will happen..."
I began sharing with Ken and Airi what was on my mind and how I would like them to react. As expected, Ken got a little heated, while Airi's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but Chiaki and Yuki did a great job in helping me settle the two of them down.
After 45 minutes, the meeting came to an end. We covered all the necessary points, and everyone seemed more prepared and focused on tomorrow's trial. While both Airi and Ken still felt unease with what I had told them, I was confident they could keep it together.
And with that, all the pieces had been set. It was only a matter of time until it was checkmate for Ryūen.
End of Chapter
A/N: I promised the trial chapter to be in Chapter 6... and so, this chapter is Chapter 5.5, which serves as further set-up while we get to the trial.
Well actually, I was simply making an excuse since this chapter reached 8k words, and I don't want to publish at 15k chapter. It's reasonable, right? Because personally, I would get lazy when I notice the chapter is too long... dunno about you guys.
The logic for this chapter (in terms of the trial preps): A proactive Kiyotaka would cover all bases and ensure everything goes right. He's not going to assume that everyone would act as he expected, so he's putting it upon himself to ensure there would be no mishaps in his scheme.
Sure... Dragon-boy's loss is all but guaranteed here, but the fun isn't in Kiyotaka possibly losing, but rather in how his victory would happen. This makes sense, right?
That said, I've already written the trial, so we might be getting that sooner than expected.
(I'm honestly just hoping to get this over with so we can have more SoL scenes with Kiyo and the squad. Hirata is probably dead now since he hadn't spent much time with his bro.)
See you in the next chapter!