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 6.5 - Victory

Horikita Suzune

As the trial came to an end, I found myself blinking repeatedly, as though trying to dispel an enchantment that had taken hold of me. Even now, the reality of what had just transpired was struggling to sink in.

Against all odds, I had not only met but exceeded the expectations that were placed upon me, delivering exactly what was needed to secure victory in the case.

For the past two hours, I had stood my ground, crafting a sturdy defense, not once faltering under the immense pressure of the situation. Even with my brother's commanding presence and his scrutinizing gaze, I had successfully navigated through the complex case.

I expected myself to be flustered, perhaps even stumble a bit under the weight of it all. However, I found myself steady, assertive, and more composed than ever.

There was a specific reason for this unexpected yet welcome calmness.

The reason was standing across the room from me, engaged in a quiet conversation with Sakura-san— Matsushita Chiaki.

When she visited me last Saturday at Ayanokōji-kun's request, we had a candid, heart-to-heart discussion, one that went beyond our initial purpose of discussing our plans for the trial. It was during this conversation that I fortified my resolve for this case.

I stepped into the trial with a newfound clarity of purpose, one that sought pride within myself rather than approval from others.

However, understanding what needed to be done and actually doing it were two very different things. At the beginning of the trial, my brother's commanding voice sent a shiver of paralysis through me. For a moment, I found myself on the brink of resignation, feeling as though I still couldn't take that essential first step forward.

Fortunately, Matsushita-san, similar to Ayanokōji-kun, had reached out to me, offering support, her words of encouragement symbolically pulling me back onto my feet.

"You've prepared for this. You know what to do. We all trust in you."

Her words weren't commanding; instead, they were a gentle nudge, reminding me that I was here for a reason, that there was a reason why I was chosen to represent our class.

Yes, Ayanokōji-kun had indeed orchestrated this scenario as a means to help me confront my fears. But that wasn't the sole reason.

I was here because Ayanokōji-kun, along with the rest of our class, had faith in my capabilities.

Even so, I must admit... this experience of receiving empathy was still somewhat alien to me. After all, I had chosen to tread a solitary path in my childhood, relying solely on my own strength and capabilities.

This newfound solidarity was an unfamiliar... yet welcome change.

"She's been lost in her own little world for a few minutes now, isn't she?"

Matsushita-san's playful voice jolted me out of my introspection. The brunette girl, now engaged in conversation with Sudo-kun, had turned her gaze in my direction, a clear indication that she was referring to me.

"Oh, seems like she noticed us already!" Matsushita-san giggled, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "C'mon, Sudo-kun, say your thanks to her! With how skilled Kaneda was earlier, you would have been toast if not for her, you know?"

"Damnit, Matsushita... you can be as annoying as Kiyotaka," Sudo-kun grumbled, but he complied with Matsushita-san's orders as he approached me.

"Uhh... thank you for your work, Horikita... and congratulations," Sudo-kun said as he bowed his head to me slightly.

A hint of color rose to Sudo-kun's cheeks as he acknowledged my role in the trial. "And uhh... I apologize for being an ass to you this whole time. Without you... well, I probably would've been in deep trouble."

I couldn't help but respond to his honest, albeit slightly awkward gratitude with a small smile. "You're welcome, Sudo-kun. But it's not like you didn't do your part as well. You remained composed, just as we had instructed."

Seeing Sudo-kun, who had always been quite brash, showing sincere gratitude and humility was another surprising turn of events that day.

"I mean... I wouldn't want everyone's work to go to waste. I wouldn't have a face to show everyone if I screwed up, y'know? But man... I'm so glad this is over already!" Sudo-kun cheered, grinning.

"You... You were amazing earlier, Horikita-san!"

Sudo-kun and I turned our heads in the direction of the voice and saw Sakura-san. The pink-haired girl, in contrast to her usual disposition, looked happy, and, despite the fact that she was still shaking, I could see a newfound light of admiration in her eyes.

"Thank you, Sakura-san." I replied, nodding my head at her.

"Thank you for believing in us," Sakura-san said, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I... I was so scared. But you... you were so strong. I mean... with Kiyotaka-kun helping us, I guess it's... almost guaranteed that we would win, but... reality is different, you know?"

"I was..." Sakura-san paused, glancing at the ground. "I was really scared when Kaneda-kun tried to discredit me earlier. If not... for the courage you've shown earlier... I might have..."

Sakura-san didn't finish her words, but we could tell what she wanted to convey: she took strength from the facade of composure that I had shown earlier.

"Honestly, Sakura-san," I responded, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You were brave. Despite your nature, you didn't hesitate to step up, and... you went and conquered your fear of being at the center of attention. I'm truly proud of you."

"T-Thank you, Horikita-san," the bespectacled girl mumbled, although I could tell she was pleased by my praise.

Even amidst all these praises, however, my mind couldn't help but circle back to a certain someone—Ayanokōji-kun.

The verdict of the trial had fallen just as Ayanokōji-kun predicted – a resounding victory, underscored by the inevitable expulsion of Komiya Kyogo-kun.

And even though I was the one standing in front of the Student Council, standing our ground and securing the victory of our class... the words that I had used, the counters that I had crafted... didn't feel like they were my own.

It felt like everything from start to finish was a simulation that had run in the mind of Ayanokōji-kun.

While I had anticipated for his predictions to come true to a certain degree... I didn't expect him to call everything correctly. The realization was honestly terrifying.

How could he predict Ryūen's moves so accurately? And not only Ryūen's, but also the Student Council's, the reactions of Kaneda, my brother, and even me. It was like he saw through us, like he understood our behaviors, our tendencies, our thought processes... perfectly.

Who exactly was Ayanokōji Kiyotaka?

In the end, the very man who was the driving force behind this victory was absent from the trial, and yet his presence loomed over the entire process. His absence felt both paradoxical and poetic, further adding to the enigma that was Ayanokōji-kun.

"You did well today, Suzune."

Startled at the intrusion of a familiar voice, I turned around and met the piercing violet eyes of nii-san. A curious mix of emotions surged within me, deciphering why he had decided to speak with me. After all, Horikita Manabu had, on multiple occasions, reiterated that... I wasn't worth his time.

"Thank you, nii-san," I replied, keeping my tone as neutral as possible, masking my surprise at his acknowledgment.

His expression was unreadable, his gaze stoic and impenetrable as always, but there was a hint of something else, something I hadn't seen before. Perhaps, it was a subtle sign of approval, or even respect.

"You showed an impressive level of maturity and composure today. I didn't expect you to handle the situation so well," he commented. His tone was as detached as ever, but the words he chose were unexpectedly positive.

For a moment, I was taken aback by his compliment. The relationship between my brother and I had always been strained, to say the least. He had always seen me as nothing more than a failure, someone who had never been able to live up to the lofty expectations he had of me. So hearing these words of approval from him was... unfamiliar.

Was he acknowledging my growth? The strides I had taken to confront my fears, stand up for myself, and protect my class? The thought was almost unbelievable, yet here he was, his words a testament to the progress I had made.

"But..." he started, his tone slightly altered. The usual harshness was replaced by a tinge of curiosity. "Why did you let Ayanokōji Kiyotaka dictate your every move?"

I flinched, not expecting him to see through our plan so easily. "You knew?" I asked, my eyes widening slightly in surprise.

He nodded, a small smirk gracing his face. "It was pretty obvious once you start connecting the dots. His absence, the strategies, your sudden competence..."

My sudden competence?

A sudden wave of irritation washed over me. "I wasn't merely following Ayanokōji-kun's instructions," I snapped, feeling the need to defend myself. "I made my own decisions. He merely gave me advice."

"But isn't it his plan that you're executing?" He pointed out, his smirk growing wider.

"Yes," I admitted. "But I was the one who executed it. I was the one standing in front of the council, fighting for our class."

For a moment, there was silence between us. His eyes were still on me, assessing, probing. I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking, what he made of this unexpected situation.

"And you think that's enough?" He finally asked, breaking the silence.

"What do you mean?" I shot back, slightly taken aback by his question.

"Do you think it's enough to merely follow someone else's instructions? To blindly trust someone else, even when you don't fully understand their motives?"

The room seemed to grow quieter as his words hung in the air. A cold knot formed in my stomach as I considered his question. Was it enough? Was I really content with letting Ayanokōji-kun make all the decisions while I merely followed his lead?

"No," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "It's not enough. I don't want to just follow someone else's orders. I want to understand the strategy, and the reasons behind the decisions. I want to make my own choices."

"But?" He asked, his gaze now intense, expectant.

"But," I continued, my voice gaining strength. "That doesn't mean I can't accept help. It doesn't mean I can't trust others."

His eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, he was silent. Then, he let out a small chuckle. "Interesting," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It seems you've learned something valuable today, Suzune."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I watched him leave, his words still echoing in my mind.

He was right. I learned something... but it wasn't something that I had just learned.

Almost two months ago, I learned this lesson about trust, about accepting help from another person. It was something that Ayanokōji-kun himself had taught me.

"You're Horikita Suzune. While you may think of senpai like some sort of a higher being, you're better off being just yourself... and forging your own path," those were the guidance that he had offered— words that I... was starting to embrace little by little.

After nii-san's departure, I stayed rooted in place, watching his retreating back until he disappeared from my sight. His words had certainly taken me by surprise. It wasn't like him to offer advice, especially to someone he had deemed unworthy.

And as I reflected on the day's events, my mind began to swirl with thoughts and feelings. Confusion, uncertainty, surprise, and a sense of fulfillment— these emotions washed over me in waves.

I had been preparing myself for a clash with my brother, expecting him to belittle me, to question my abilities, as he always did. Instead, he'd acknowledged my efforts, my growth. He had challenged my actions, yes, but not with disdain or contempt, rather, with curiosity and, dare I say, respect.

His words had given me much to consider, both about myself and about Ayanokōji-kun.

It was true; I had followed Ayanokōji-kun's strategy, trusting in his judgment and relying on his guidance. And yet, I hadn't been merely a puppet following his commands. I had made decisions on my own, taken a stand when I needed to, and successfully navigated through the intricate trial proceedings.

I had trusted Ayanokōji-kun, but I had also believed in myself.

And that was the difference. The difference between the Horikita Suzune who had first arrived at this school and the one who had faced the trial today. The difference between the girl who had been convinced she could do everything by herself, and the one who had learned to trust others.

I was still myself. I was still Horikita Suzune. But I was also evolving, growing. I was starting to understand that it wasn't a weakness to trust in others, to accept their help.

I didn't have all the answers. There were still things I didn't understand, about myself, about Ayanokōji-kun, about my classmates. There were still fears and doubts to face and challenges to overcome.

But, for the first time, I felt a sense of peace with the uncertainty. For the first time, I truly understood that it was okay not to know everything and not be able to handle everything on my own.

And as I began to walk away, I could almost hear Ayanokōji-kun's voice echoing in my mind.

"Find your own way, Horikita Suzune."

Yes, that's exactly what I planned to do.

End of Chapter

A/N: While this could actually be added to Chapter 6, I felt like the impact would be more maximized if I decided to publish it as a .5 chapter. Do you guys agree with my decision here?

Anyways, I hope this did its work in furthering Suzune's development.

For those curious about the conversation she had with Kiyo as well as her introspective thought in it, do give Vol 1. Chapter 12.5 a re-read as well as Suzune's SS in Vol 1. That should explain why she reacted the way she did now.

Suzune has already grown, but realizing the need for growth and taking the first step towards it are different concepts altogether.

This trial, was a crucial step in helping her realize that she has what it takes to be her own person, one with principles different to that of Manabu, and one who could finally face him.

Keep in mind though that Suzune still is a work-in-progress.