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 7 - A Push in the Right Direction
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
After separating from Shiina, I immediately returned to my dorm, intent on reading "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club," which was the fourth book in the Lord Peter series. Shiina got very animated when describing the book earlier, so I decided to check it out myself if it was as interesting as she painted it out to be.
But before that, I suppose it wouldn't be a bad idea to brew some tea.
I was greeted by the sight of several unread messages from Chiaki, starting about 25 minutes ago. They were basically a summary of what had transpired over the course of the trial, while the newer ones voiced out Chiaki's astonishment over the entire ordeal.
After all, everything went according to what I had predicted.
Seeing that the messages have indeed confirmed my previous analysis, a sense of satisfaction washes over me. I swiftly typed back, "Good work, Chiaki. I knew I could trust you with the job." Not one to get tangled in extended conversations, I quickly hit send, leaning back into my chair as I awaited her response.
In the background, the sound of the water bubbling signals the kettle is ready. I pour the hot water into the teapot, letting the black tea steep as I set the timer for exactly three minutes. Perfect tea required patience and precision, something that Keiji-san had instilled in me.
After a few moments, my phone pinged, signaling a new message. Chiaki had replied, "Thank you, Kiyotaka-kun! But the credit goes to Horikita. She did an amazing job in the courtroom!"
While I wasn't present during the trial, the play-by-play messages from Chiaki were enough to give me a clear picture of the entire proceedings.
Horikita had indeed exceeded my expectations. I knew she was capable, but the way she handled the pressure, and the skill with which she executed my strategies, were commendable.
"Yes, she certainly did," I typed back, acknowledging Horikita's achievements. It was then that I decided to switch the topic of the conversation, knowing fully well that we could go on praising Horikita's performance. "I'll speak to you tomorrow. Rest well, Chiaki."
With that message sent, I turned off my phone, not wishing to continue the conversation further.
The timer went off, signaling that my tea was ready. I poured myself a cup, the steam wafting up, carrying the soothing aroma of black tea.
Settling into my chair, I picked up the book that Shiina had recommended. It was a vintage copy, with worn-out edges and faded ink. I could almost smell the history etched into the yellowing pages.
But before I could even open the book, someone buzzed me from the first floor.
That... was new.
While I was aware of an intercom feature existing in the dormitories, this was the first time that someone actually used it to contact me. But then again, if this was who I thought it was... this approach was to be expected.
With that, I went to check the screen, and just as I had anticipated, I found myself looking at the familiar face of Horikita Manabu.
"Ayanokōji, I would like a moment of your time. Would that be fine with you?" He asked through the intercom.
"Sure. I suppose we do have some things to talk about," I replied.
I buzzed him into the building and prepared another cup of tea. It would be rude not to offer a guest a cup of tea, after all.
Soon after, the doorbell rang, and I welcomed Horikita Manabu into my dorm room. He entered with a composed yet slightly curious expression, his sharp eyes scanning the room.
"Quite the tidy room you got here," he pointed out.
"Is that so? You should thank your little sister for that, then. She's pretty good at cleaning things," I joked, glancing at the dark-haired boy.
"Suzune actually agreed to that?" Horikita-senpai asked, a curious look evident in his eyes. "Impressive, Ayanokōji."
...
What the hell, senpai?
"Are you an idiot, senpai? It was a joke," I replied, sighing. "I was referring to the great job she did in helping Class B win the trial earlier. Why would she actually clean my room?"
"That's... a little disappointing," he replied. "I would have liked that to have been the case."
His comment elicited a chuckle from me, as I picked up the tea set and moved towards the low table in the center of the room. I motioned him to sit while I served the tea.
"Disappointments are a part of life, senpai," I offered him a cup, meeting his gaze with a slight smile.
After an awkward silence, he decided to break the ice.
"True enough," he replied, taking a sip from the cup. "Now, about the trial earlier..."
"I heard Horikita performed well. Quite impressive considering how things are between the two of you, senpai," I interrupted him, already knowing what he was about to say.
"Yes, she did. But..." he trailed off, looking into his cup.
"But?"
"But you are the one pulling the strings behind the scenes, aren't you, Ayanokōji?" he finished, glancing up from his cup to meet my gaze, his eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of respect. "The way she executed it... it was too precise, too flawless. Like someone else was pulling the strings."
The bespectacled boy's gaze turned towards me, a question hanging in the air.
His statement didn't catch me off guard. After all, Horikita Manabu, who was heralded as the greatest Student Council President of this institution, was no ordinary student.
He was observant, sharp, and had a knack for noticing even the smallest of details.
"What's the point of asking something you already knew, senpai?" I countered, taking a sip out of the teacup in my hand. "Knowing you, you must have already confronted her over it."
Horikita Manabu chuckled lightly, his eyes never leaving mine. "I did. She didn't deny it and, in fact, admitted to following your lead... and when I confronted her about it."
"Do you want to know what she said, Ayanokōji?" He paused, glancing down at his teacup, swirling the remaining tea in it.
"That doesn't mean I can't accept help. It doesn't mean I can't trust others. Those were the words Suzune spoke," he continued, a smile forming on his face. "You've accomplished in three months... something that I have failed to do for over a decade."
I put down my cup and rested my gaze on him. "And what might that be?" I asked.
I knew what he was trying to go for, but I wanted to hear the words from the man himself. I wanted to know what he was able to take from his short conversation with his sister.
"You've successfully pushed her into finally carving her own path, one that's independent of my own." His voice was sober, with a hint of pride. "While she's still not there... she... has finally taken that first step— trusting other people."
"I see," I replied, nodding my head in acknowledgment. "Have you told her that you're proud of her progress, senpai?"
Knowing Horikita Manabu, it was unlikely for him to openly acknowledge his little sister's growth. In fact, it was more likely for him to try and challenge her beliefs, to challenge the sentiment that she had changed.
Because that... was the only way he knew to push his little sister, as sad as it sounded.
"Ah, well..." His voice faltered, and he averted his gaze to the floor, clearly uncomfortable with the topic. "That... I haven't done that outwardly."
There was an awkward silence between us. The usually confident and composed Horikita Manabu was now struggling with expressing his feelings towards his sister.
It was a sight rarely seen, and it would have amused me if not for my bond with both siblings.
"But enough about that," he quickly composed himself and changed the topic. "Let's talk about the trial."
"What do you want to know, senpai?" I asked, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms over my chest.
"I'd like to know your thought process, Ayanokōji. How did you devise such a flawless strategy?" He seemed genuinely interested, his gaze piercing through me, expecting a proper explanation.
...
I guess I could humor him this time. It wasn't like I did anything groundbreaking.
"Well, it all starts with understanding the opponent, senpai. Knowing their weaknesses and strengths, their habits and tendencies. Once you know that, it's easy to manipulate the situation to your advantage," I explained, resting my gaze on the cup of tea on the table. "As for the execution part, that was all Horikita. She did an excellent job."
"I can't argue with that," he nodded, clearly impressed. "But, Ayanokōji... one thing still bothers me."
"And what's that?" I asked, glancing over at him.
"Why help Suzune?" His gaze was steady, eyes searching for a response. "Knowing your... capabilities, why spend time and effort on her? The things that you've done, you could have used someone more agreeable than her, and everything would still be the same."
"Why would you bother with my little sister, who has all but rejected help from anyone?" He pressed.
There was a heavy silence in the room. The question wasn't something I hadn't expected from him. Was it really that strange for me to go out of my way to help out Horikita Suzune?
After all, shouldn't it be commonplace for a student like me to go out of his way to help others?
No... that's not the point of his question.
He was questioning my motivation.
Taking a moment, I decided to give him an answer, "I guess it comes down to the fact that she didn't need help, but rather the right push. She was already very capable on her own; she just didn't realize it. It's not about using someone who's more agreeable but about making use of the potential someone already has."
"In Horikita's case, her potential was clear as day to anyone who cared to look. But her inability to trust others and rely on them was holding her back," I continued. "By pushing her in the right direction, I was helping her unlock her potential. And in doing so, we all benefit."
There was a silent pause as Horikita Manabu took in my words. He seemed to be mulling over them, his gaze moving from me to his now empty tea cup.
"I see," he finally said, breaking the silence. His voice held a tone of understanding. "But I wonder if that's all there is to it. Because for a person who's more than willing to use another person to further his own agenda... you're surprisingly empathetic, Ayanokōji."
"After all, I hadn't forgotten when you confronted me over my strained relationship with her. And now, you've pushed her again in an attempt to make her confront one of her greatest fears— facing me."
"I suppose I have said enough. I will get to the point: Do you like Suzune?" Horikita-senpai continued, a small smile present on his face.
Caught off guard, I looked at the bespectacled boy, trying not to pinch my forehead at the suddenness of his question, one that heavily deviated from the topic we were talking about.
Did he seriously come into my dorm room just to ask if I have romantic feelings for his little sister?
Say what you will about Horikita Manabu, but he sure is tenacious.
"Like her?" I echoed, maintaining my composure.
"Yes," he nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. "You've been doing a lot for her. More than what a mere classmate would do. You may say it's about potential, or the greater good, or whatever reason you've conjured in your mind. But you have to admit, your actions show more... investment."
"I won't deny that I've taken a particular interest in your sister's growth," I replied, acknowledging his observation. "But that doesn't mean there are romantic feelings involved, Horikita-senpai."
"But isn't it a natural consequence?" He asked, looking genuinely curious. "You've been working closely with her, pushing her boundaries, helping her grow... Doesn't that create a certain... bond?"
"Emotional attachment can indeed be a byproduct of close interaction, but it's not a given, and even if it happens, it's not always a romantic inclination," I clarified, sighing. "Senpai, you're reading too much into this... again."
"But you don't deny the possibility of such a development?" Horikita-senpai questioned further, not backing down.
"Is there a point to all of these questions, senpai?" I redirected, growing weary of the discussion.
He seemed to take my response as a sign to relent, at least momentarily. His shoulders relaxed slightly, and he allowed a half-smile to tug at his lips.
"I suppose I am being overbearing," he admitted, eyes meeting mine once more, this time with less intensity. "But considering I've entrusted Suzune to you, it would... be great if you do feel something for her."
The weight of his words hung heavily in the air between us. An uncharacteristic emotion lurked in his gaze – it was neither resignation nor relief but something more profound. Understanding. Acknowledgment. Trust.
"You... really suck at this, senpai," I joked, trying to lighten up the mood. "You asked all those questions, creating a tense atmosphere, but all you really wanted to know... is if I like your sister?"
He chuckled lightly at my words, shaking his head in amusement. "You're quite right, Ayanokōji. Perhaps I am not as adept at these conversations as I thought. But then, it's not something I usually indulge in."
"I can tell," I replied, offering him a slight grin. "But it's hilarious. For a person who's usually direct, you certainly took a roundabout way to get to your point, Horikita-senpai."
He let out a wry smile at my comment, his usual composed expression gradually returning. "Yes, I suppose I did."
I picked up the teapot, gesturing with it towards his cup, a silent question. He glanced down at his empty cup and then back up at me, a nod giving me the answer I needed.
"And to answer your question, senpai," I started, pouring the tea into his cup. "Yes, I care about Horikita Suzune. But not in the way you're implying," I continued, trying to make my point clear.
Horikita Manabu watched me with a look of understanding. "I see," he said, after a moment. He seemed to mull over my words before adding, "That's... good enough for now, I guess."
"Good enough, huh?" I mused, leaning back into my chair.
An awkward silence enveloped us for a moment, each lost in our thoughts. After what felt like an eternity, he broke the silence. "I guess, then, there is nothing left to say about that topic. I hope you will continue to guide Suzune as she walks her path."
"And," he added, after a pause, "Thank you, Ayanokōji. Thank you for being there for Suzune when I couldn't."
I raised an eyebrow at his words, a slight smile tugging at my lips. "You do realize that, for you to truly thank me, you'll need to start mending your own relationship with Horikita, right?" I said. "She may seem tough and independent, but your approval means more to her than you think, senpai."
He simply nodded, seemingly lost in thought again. His brows furrowed slightly as he processed my words. After a few moments, he sighed. "It's... harder than you might think. You know why already."
"I do," I replied, finishing my tea. "But who said it was going to be easy? Eventually, you'll have to face the problem you created yourself, senpai."
As the night deepened, our conversation steered away from the serious topic to lighter ones – school, life, future plans, and, of course, his little sister. As strained as their relationship might be, it was evident that Horikita Manabu cared deeply for his little sister, as he occasionally peppered our conversation with anecdotes from their childhood.
It was a different side of Horikita Manabu that I saw that night – a caring elder brother, a conflicted mentor, and a young man just trying to do what he felt was the best for his little sister.
In his own unconventional way, he was doing his best to support her growth.
And as the night wore on, I found myself understanding Horikita Manabu a bit better and, in the process, understanding Horikita Suzune a bit better too. As the night sky deepened, we finally decided to call it a night.
As Horikita-senpai got up to leave, he turned toward me one last time.
"Ayanokōji, even though it's not in the way I hoped for, I'm glad that you care about Suzune," he said, a sincere smile gracing his features. "It's quite embarrassing to leave my little sister in someone else's care, but I trust you."
"What? Even after everything we've talked about, you're still trying to be distant? Haaah... you're stubborn, senpai," I replied, shaking my head. "What she needs from you isn't distance but... your presence."
Of course, I understood why Horikita-senpai was feeling this way. After all, what I had been suggesting to him over the past two months was for him to let go of the roundabout approach that he kept using on his little sister for the better part of 11 years or even more.
He knew I was right, but there was a myriad of things going on in his mind as to why it might not be as easy as I had presented.
In his mind, he no longer deserved to act like Horikita Suzune's older brother after the harm and hurt he had caused her by practically rejecting her existence in a roundabout way of telling her not to follow his ways.
While that sentiment had merit, it didn't have any weight.
After all, Horikita Suzune wanted to foster a better relationship with her older brother, and in this specific scenario, it was her desires that ultimately held weight, not Horikita Manabu's.
"Well, you're not wrong," Horikita-senpai replied with a wry smile. "I guess I have a lot to make up for, don't I?"
"I would say so," I answered, standing up from my chair. "But it's never too late to start mending things."
"Right... Thank you, Ayanokōji," he expressed, a flicker of determination flashing in his eyes.
Then, he finally turned to leave my room, but not before leaving me with one last thought, "Next time we talk, it won't be about my sister or your relationship with her. It'll be about... well, something less serious, hopefully."
"I look forward to that, Horikita-senpai," I replied, nodding at his departing figure.
Once he had left, I found myself alone in my room again. My eyes shifted to the pair of empty teacups left behind on the table, a reminder of the conversation I had shared with him.
Not wanting any ants to crawl up the empty teacups, I picked them up, rinsed them out, and set them aside to dry. As I did this, Horikita-senpai's words echoed in my mind once more. They were an odd mix of a confession and a request.
It was a subtle plea for me to guide Horikita Suzune, to push her to continue growing beyond her current self, and perhaps even to develop a deeper bond with her.
But why?
She was undoubtedly talented and determined. Her potential was unbounded, and she possessed the capability to surpass many, including her own brother.
Was this scenario of her achieving this potential the one that Horikita-senpai wished to see? That should be it, right?
I let out a sigh.
Horikita Manabu sure had a high amount of faith he had placed in me. Not only was he entrusting me with leading ANHS in the future, but he was also entrusting me with his little sister.
Shaking off the remnants of the unusual conversation, I decided to go back to my initial plan— reading "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club."
Settling into my chair, I reached for the vintage book, taking a moment to appreciate its aged beauty before opening the cover and immersing myself in the world Shiina had enthusiastically introduced me to earlier.
But as I delved deeper into the narrative, I found myself occasionally glancing at the teacups that I had set aside to dry, another part of my conversation with Horikita-senpai echoing in my mind.
"Do you like Suzune?"
The question was simple yet loaded with a million different implications. Did I like her? In what context? As a friend, a comrade, or something more?
Of course, I knew the answer myself.
I liked Horikita Suzune enough to consider her as a friend, as someone who I've grown to care for. But as something more than that?
My love life is complicated enough as it is.
With these thoughts in mind, I returned my attention to the aged book before me, diving into the world of Lord Peter Wimsey, leaving the contemplations of the Horikita siblings for another time.
The real world, with its complications and nuances, could wait.
End of Chapter