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. SS 4 - Ryūen Kakeru: Erosion of Invincibility
The words hung in the air long after Ayanokōji had left, sharp and bitter, echoing in my ears. I could still feel the heat of his derisive touch, a mere tap on my shoulder but far heavier in its implications. A taunt, a challenge, a dismissal—all rolled into one.
I looked at the empty spot where he and Hiyori had stood moments before, my mind replaying our heated exchange. His calm demeanor, his mocking tone, his playful attitude... it was all a slap to the face. An insult to me and what I stood for. I wasn't used to being undermined, especially not in front of my class.
"The only comedian out here is the boy who initiated an attack... yet ended up losing a classmate, Ryūen Kakeru."
His words were a mere mockery of my strategy, my leadership. The way he framed it, it was as if the loss was entirely my fault, a result of my impulsiveness. It stung, but not as much as his next words.
"I didn't even lift a finger... and you still lost."
A cruel reminder of my shortcomings. A jibe at my inability to protect my class from the threat of expulsion. How had he managed to turn my aggression against me so easily?
"It seems like your fire doesn't have the power to scorch me, Ryūen."
It was as if he was poking fun at my spirit, my will. As if everything that I believed was my strength was nothing but smoke and ashes in his eyes.
"You don't interest me."
His final blow— a cold dismissal of my existence. How dare he belittle me, my worth, my power?
As I stood there, the silence of the room enveloped me, the echoes of Ayanokōji's words still resonating in my ears. I could sense their weight in the air, but also in the eyes of my classmates, who were watching me closely. Their expressions varied from shock to disbelief to a thin veneer of sympathy.
Each face was a stark reminder of the jibe that Ayanokōji had landed. After all, they had witnessed the entire encounter and seen me uncharacteristically undermined... almost effortlessly, at that.
It was more than clear; Ayanokōji's barbs had cut deeper than any physical blow could. They had eroded the image of invincibility I had so painstakingly built— one that I had always held— and the reality of this stung, an unexpected discomfort in the pit of my stomach.
But now was not the time for self-doubt or introspection; it was time to regain control.
"Get back to your seats," I commanded, my voice cutting through the silence like a knife. "If any of you think this changes anything, you're sorely mistaken."
The oppressive silence shattered at my command, replaced by the scrape of chairs against the floor as my classmates retreated to their desks, the atmosphere heavy with unease. I could feel their wary gazes on me as I moved to the front of the room, a grim satisfaction settling in.
With my command hanging in the air and my classmates' silent acquiescence, I could finally let the mask slip just a fraction, allowing myself a moment of reflection amidst the turmoil. I turned my gaze away from the uneasy faces of my classmates, settling it on the empty space that Ayanokōji had vacated just minutes ago.
The words he spoke settled deep in my chest, a burning reminder of my failure. They had stripped me bare, and in the unforgiving light of day, I was exposed. The cracks in my armor, the flaws in my strategy, all laid bare for the world to see.
But, I refused to let this be my end.
This... Ayanokōji, he'd proven himself a worthy adversary, a force to reckon with. He had thrown the gauntlet, challenging me in ways no one else had dared. I clenched my fists, the determination to rise again coursing through my veins.
'You don't interest me,' he had said, the final affront to my pride. I'd prove him wrong. I would make him take those words back, one way or another. This was not just about victory anymore; it was about retribution, about reclaiming the aura that I had lost.
For sure, some of the more stupid fucks like Tokito would think that he now stood a chance against me... but he, as well as Ayanokōji, would eventually find out that I don't make the same mistakes twice.
If anything, Ayanokōji had done me a favor.
He had shown me my own reflection, unfiltered and unflattering. He had pushed me back against the wall, and in doing so, he'd given me something to push against. I could see now where I stood. It was time to regroup, reevaluate, and strike back.
His words echoed in my mind once more, a taunting whisper amidst the turmoil of my thoughts.
'You don't interest me.'
"We'll see about that, Ayanokōji," I murmured, a determined fire lighting in my eyes as I stared out at the still uneasy class. "We'll see about that."
End of Short Story
A/N: I figured it was best to put Dragon-boy's SS right after Chap 7.5 to really give emphasis to how he felt after Kiyotaka humiliated him in front of his class.
Supposedly, this was meant to be released after Vol 2's chapters were finished, but you can't go wrong with this choice, right?