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 8.5 - A Well-Deserved Break (End)
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
I slowly stirred from my slumber, the comfortable warmth of my bed making it quite challenging to fully wake up. As my sleepy eyes fluttered open, the first thing I noticed was a weight draped over my waist and another on my chest. I glanced down, spotting a patch of blonde curls on my chest and a mop of brunette hair over my stomach.
Ah, that's right... Chiaki and Yuki.
The events of last night came flooding back into my mind— the double date, the café, the arcade, Yōsuke's terrible singing, and the subsequent agreement that eventually led to this moment. The lingering scent of Yuki's sweet perfume and Chiaki's fresh, citrusy shampoo filled my nostrils, triggering a wave of memories to flash back in my mind.
Yuki, her arm thrown loosely around my waist, was nestled into my side, her head resting comfortably on my chest. I could feel the soft rhythm of her breathing against my skin, matching the steady beat of my heart. Her hand was curled in the fabric of my shirt, her fingers lightly twitching in her sleep, evoking a gentle tickling sensation that managed to bring forth a small, fond smile on my lips.
On the other side, Chiaki was snuggled up to my stomach, clutching onto my shirt as if it were her the panda plushie she had won yesterday— the same plushie that was now staring at us from the couch as if it was a protective guard.
Turning my gaze back to Chiaki, the top of her head was pressed against my torso, and her brunette locks sprawled over me like a warm, cozy blanket. Her soft snores echoed in the quiet room, a testament to her deep slumber.
Soon, I felt my eyelids grow heavy once again, the serene silence luring me back into the realm of dreams. But just as I was about to surrender to the call of sleep, the sunlight streaming in through the window caught my eye. I squinted at the bright light, my gaze drifting over to the digital clock on my nightstand.
6:25 AM.
It looks like we had all overslept.
As the realization struck, I felt an odd sense of calm. On an ordinary day, my strict schedule would have me up and about by 5:00 AM, where I would start my day with my routine workout, cooking, and reading a couple of pages from books before getting ready for my day.
But I decided to treat today... as a special day, a temporary reprieve from the high-paced life that I was leading in ANHS. After all, I was currently in the solace of my room, nestled in between two beautiful girls. This was the dream.
And so, I took the opportunity to further indulge in their company, my hands gently gliding through Yuki's soft hair and Chiaki's smooth locks. This wasn't the first time that the three of us had slept together in the same bed, but every instance of it was something that I still enjoyed.
I guess it was pretty greedy of me not to want to pick between either of them and indirectly say that I wanted both of them. But to be frank, if the girls had no complaints about this setup... what was the use of overthinking it?
"Kiyotaka..." Yuki murmured in a sleepy voice, her fingers absentmindedly drawing small patterns on my shirt. "... Morning kiss... please..."
Her sleepy request caught me by surprise, though it shouldn't have. We've done this before, sharing morning kisses as a sort of ritual. I glanced at her, noting her eyes were still shut and her lips slightly parted. After observing her for a bit, I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Mmm..." Yuki hummed, a contented smile spreading across her face. Her grip on my shirt tightened slightly, pulling herself even closer to me.
I was about to close my eyes and go back to sleep when a sleepy voice piped up from my other side. "Hey... what about my kiss? Meanie... Kiyotaka-kun... meanie."
I turned my head towards the voice to find Chiaki staring at me, her eyes half-lid and her cheeks slightly flushed. Even in her half-awake state, she had managed to catch our little exchange.
I chuckled lightly at her pouting expression, my free hand reaching out to gently caress her cheek. "I'm not a meanie, Chiaki. I just thought you were still asleep," I responded in a low whisper.
"Oh, really?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at me. She snuggled closer to me, her hand reaching out to play with the hem of my shirt. "Then, Kiyotaka-kun... My morning kiss?"
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the request was clear. She looked at me with half-lidded eyes, an expectant look on her face. Without another word, I leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, much like I did with Yuki.
A small sigh of contentment escaped from her lips, and her body relaxed further against me, her fingers tracing lazy circles on my shirt. "That's better..." she mumbled before drifting off back into sleep.
"Still... second," A still sleepy-sounding Yuki pointed out, her eyes glancing at Chiaki before she giggled. "I win... Chiaki-chan."
Some things just never change, do they? But I suppose this was better than Yuki's passive-aggressive jealousy.
"Win... what?" she grumbled, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "Morning kisses aren't... a competition."
"Well... if they were... I would be winning," Yuki shot back, a lazy grin adorning her face as she snuggled closer to me. "Just... as always..."
I shook my head at their antics, finding their morning banter amusing. There was something quite comforting about the routine we had built, the familiarity of their bickering, the warmth of their bodies against mine—it was as if a piece of the puzzle that was my life had slipped perfectly into place.
"I think we all win in this case," I mused, earning a pair of curious looks from both girls. "You both get your morning kisses, and I get to start my day with the two of you. It's perfect."
Both girls seemed to ponder over my words, and after a few moments, they shared a look before turning back to me, pouts showing on their faces.
"Un...unfair... Kiyotaka," Yuki murmured, her hand resuming its idle dance over my shirt. "That's too sudden... b-baka Robotkōji..."
"And why am I a Robotkōji again? Last time I checked, Robots don't show emotions."
"Well... you are still unaware of the impact of your words! So... you're still a Robotkōji, Kiyotaka-kun. And... as punishment... you need to cuddle with us all day," Chiaki chimed in before she snuggled back into my side, her soft breaths lulling Yuki and me into a peaceful silence.
Ridiculous, I thought to myself as I shook my head in amusement.
How was cuddling with them a punishment?
"I'm not sure about all day, but I guess we could stay until... 7:30, I guess," I replied, after glancing at the clock again.
A chorus of groans met my ears, but I simply smiled, reaching out to gently stroke both of their hair. "It's almost an hour from now. That's plenty of time for cuddling."
Their complaints were short-lived, their eyes slowly fluttering closed again as my fingers ran through their locks, their bodies relaxing further against me. The quiet murmuring of their breaths was the only sound that filled the room, a peaceful rhythm that had my own eyelids growing heavy once again.
"We'll hold you to that, Kiyotaka," Yuki murmured, her hand squeezing mine lightly. "One hour of uninterrupted cuddling... It's a promise. No getting up."
"Yes, it's a promise."
Just as I felt the warm tendrils of sleep start to creep back in, I heard Chiaki's sleepy voice pipe up again. "And... Kiyotaka-kun... you're making breakfast... too."
"Hm? Sure, I'll cook."
With those words, a quiet contentment settled over us, a peaceful atmosphere filling the room as the two girls drifted back to sleep.
As the comforting silence enveloped us, I found my thoughts drifting back to the life I'd led just two years ago. Waking up at 4:30 AM to the stark, clinical austerity of the White Room, my mornings were spent in sterile solitude. Surrounded by stark white walls and a rigid schedule dictating the day's events, I was deprived of warmth, companionship, and the simple joys of a normal life.
Now, as I lay here between Yuki and Chiaki, their soft breaths whispering against my skin, I couldn't help but draw a stark contrast to those bleak mornings of my past. Here, I found warmth, love, and acceptance— all the things that were glaringly absent in the White Room.
But even in the midst of this comfort, I recognized a haunting truth: I was still a monster, a machine, albeit given some semblance of sentience.
After all, I harbored no anger or frustration about the inhumane practices of the White Room. I didn't resent it, didn't question its methods. In my mind, it was simply a platform for self-improvement, a place to test my limits and see how much more I could learn.
In that sense, I had become the very thing they had shaped me to be—a machine designed to pursue perfection, unaffected by emotions or moral qualms.
Even while nestled in the warmth of Yuki and Chiaki, a nagging sense of unease began to creep into my thoughts.
Had I truly freed myself from the clutches of the White Room? Or had I simply traded one form of confinement for another?
"No... that wasn't it," I muttered to myself.
"What... is it, Kiyotaka?" Yuki asked sleepily before adjusting her position, now snuggling against my neck.
"Just a stupid thought, Yuki. Don't mind it too much, alright?"
"Mhm... okay."
There was no sense in harboring anger over a past that had never truly incited my anger. The point of my escapade into the outside world, one that brought me to ANHS... was not to languish upon what I had been through. Instead, it was an opportunity to be human, to find my own path, to stray from the course my father had meticulously planned for me.
But then a chilling thought wormed its way into my mind, refusing to be ignored.
"What if all of these... were part of his plans all along?"
As the alarm from my digital clock sliced through our short slumber at exactly 7:30 AM, the girls began to stir beside me, their soft grumbles and entreaties for 'just five more minutes' punctuating the stillness.
"Can't negotiate with the clock. 7:30 is 7:30," I responded, my voice laced with amusement as I carefully extricated my arms from their grasp.
Yuki and Chiaki put up a mild protest, but their half-hearted grumbles were quickly silenced when I leaned over and planted a light kiss on each of their lips.
It worked to full effect. Quite the powerful weapon, wasn't it?
"Remember... breakfast, Kiyotaka," Chiaki reminded, a tinge of excitement lacing her sleepy voice.
"A lot of pancakes, please!" Yuki added, a playful grin dancing on her lips.
I merely chuckled in response, "Of course. I'll get on it right away."
Making sure the girls were comfortably situated, I excused myself from the bed and made my way to the pantry and, eventually, the kitchen.
Time flowed as I busied myself in the kitchen, the clatter of pots and pans and the hiss of sizzling bacon creating a familiar symphony. The aroma of pancakes and bacon filled my room as I moved efficiently, chopping, stirring, and flipping—skills honed by countless hours in the kitchen.
I really enjoyed cooking as it gave me a sense of control, a sense of calmness.
Just as I was sliding the last pancake onto a plate, my phone vibrated sharply against the kitchen counter. I picked it up to see a message from Ichinose lighting up the screen.
"Good morning, Ayanokōji-kun! Sorry for messaging this early, but I'd like to ask if you're still free for later."
Her text brought back a memory from last week— the two of us, sitting in the student council room, her face slightly flushed as she asked me out for lunch as a token of thanks for helping her out in her small "confession dilemma" the other week.
Ichinose told me that my advice worked out and that she and Chihiro were now back to being friends... although she also said that she was now being occasionally teased by Chihiro and blamed me for it.
"I wonder why she told me about that, though," I mused to myself. "Did the fake-out kiss leave that much of an impression on her?"
"Well, I guess that's what happens when you play with fire," I thought to myself, a small smile playing on my lips. I quickly typed back a response:
"Good morning, Ichinose. No worries, I'm still free. I'll see you later then."
A few moments later, my phone buzzed with her reply.
"Great! See you then, Ayanokōji-kun! :D"
With that, I set my phone down and plated the food, arranging a stack of fluffy pancakes along with crispy bacon and a side of fresh fruits on three separate plates.
Breakfast was served.
The morning flew by quickly. After a hearty breakfast and a relaxing morning spent with Yuki and Chiaki, it was time for me to meet up with Ichinose.
As I stepped outside the dorms, I saw that the weather was perfect— the sun shining brightly but the wind cool enough not to make it uncomfortable. The scenery was alive with students enjoying their Sunday— some students chatting, some playing sports, and some studying under the trees.
Upon arrival at the agreed restaurant, I found Ichinose waiting, her eyes lighting up when she saw me.
"Ayanokōji-kun, over here!" she called, waving me over. "I hope you'll like the place I chose. Their food is excellent!"
Just as we were about to reach the restaurant, we noticed a sign hung crookedly on the door: "Closed for Repairs."
Ichinose looked crestfallen, her eyes scanning the sign as if trying to see some way around it. She turned to me, her face slightly flushed from embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, Ayanokōji-kun. I should've checked in advance." Her eyes darted around, as if searching for another suitable restaurant. I waited patiently, allowing her to gather her thoughts.
Finally, she straightened up and met my gaze, a determined glint in her eyes.
"Would you... come over to my dorm?" she suggested, a casual tone masking what seemed like a hint of nervousness. "I can cook something for us instead... and I'm pretty confident in my cooking skills."
I raised an eyebrow, a little taken aback by her sudden proposition. This was not a scenario I had anticipated, but then again, Ichinose Honami had a way of surprising me more often than not.
But I wasn't going to let her one-up me, even if it wasn't her intention.
"Well," I began, tilting my head to the side, a smile teasing at the corners of my mouth, "That makes everything all the more suspicious, doesn't it?"
"E-Eh?! Wha...what do you mean?"
"Was the offer for free lunch a pretense for your impure intentions?" I joked, teasing her further. "Inviting a boy to your room, all alone, in the middle of the day? It sounds quite suspect, don't you think?"
Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment, and she quickly began to stammer a defense. "T-that's not it! I-I just thought... I mean... I didn't mean it like that..."
Her flustered reaction would always be amusing to witness.
"I'm kidding, Ichinose. I would be happy to have lunch at your place. I'm sure whatever you cook will be great," I replied, patting her head.
"Y-you mean it?" she asked, looking up at me with wide, hopeful eyes, the blush still evident on her cheeks.
"Absolutely. But, in exchange, you have to promise not to poison me with your cooking," I teased, a light smile escaping my lips as I saw her face light up in relief before an indignant pout replaced it upon realizing my joke.
"Ayanokōji-kun!" she swatted my arm lightly, feigning annoyance but failing to hide the small smile creeping onto her face. "You're mean! Really, really mean!"
"Didn't stop me the previous fifty times you pointed that out, and it's not going to stop me now," I countered.
Her mock indignation didn't last long. With a roll of her eyes, she slung her arm around mine, dragging me along as she started walking. My eyes then drifted to my arm that Ichinose was dragging... Ichinose's chest covered a significant portion of it.
As a teenage boy, I wasn't going to complain about the predicament I found myself in... but was she aware of what she was doing?
My eyes then shifted to the pink-haired girl, who sported a cheerful look on her face.
She definitely wasn't.
"Then you just wait and see, Ayanokōji-kun," she said, determination lacing her voice. "I'll cook a meal so good, you'll have to bow down and apologize for being mean!"
"Quite extreme, but sure, I look forward to it," I responded, offering her a smile as I let myself be pulled along.
We started towards her dorm, her stride confident and steady. Her earlier flustered state seemed to have vanished, replaced by an eager excitement that seemed infectious.
"Since you're so confident, may I ask what's on the menu?" I ventured, glancing at her.
"Hmm..." Ichinose hummed, her brow furrowing in thought as she looked up at the sky. "That's a secret. But I promise it's something you'll enjoy."
"... I don't think you're edible, Ichinose."
The silence lasted for a few seconds. Ichinose stood there, mouth agape and eyes wide as she processed my words.
"A-Ayanokōji-kun! Why... why would you even think of that?" she stammered, her cheeks flaming a darker shade of red. She quickly removed her arm from mine and took a few steps away from me, muttering something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like 'pervert.'
"Hmm, and here I was, thinking I would get a decent lunch," I quipped, my smirk growing at her indignation. "My mistake, then."
Ichinose huffed, brushing a few stray strands of hair out of her face. Despite her bluster, there was a playful twinkle in her eyes as she turned back to me. "I can guarantee that my cooking is a hundred times better than whatever perverted thoughts you're having, Ayanokōji-kun."
"I wasn't having perverted thoughts, but tell me, Ichinose. What crossed your mind?" I asked, glancing at the pink-haired girl. "I'm a greedy person, and I might demand for both of them."
Ichinose's mouth dropped open, and she stared at me in disbelief. "W-what are you... I-I mean..." she stumbled over her words, her face growing redder by the second. I could practically see the gears in her head working overtime to process my words.
"Relax, Ichinose. You're going to overheat if you keep blushing like that," I teased, the corners of my mouth curving into an amused smile.
She pouted and folded her arms over her chest. "And whose fault is that? You're impossible, Ayanokōji-kun," she grumbled, trying to regain some semblance of control over the conversation.
"I try," I said, my voice flat, but my eyes twinkling with amusement. "Now, should we get moving? I'm getting hungrier by the minute..."
"And I don't think you'd like that. Because I might..." My eyes lingered on her lips, an intentional taunt. "Put matters in my own hands."
"Put matters in your own hands?" Ichinose repeated, her voice faltering as my insinuation hit home. She shifted uncomfortably, her gaze straying to where my eyes were fixated. Her eyes widened, and she hastily covered her mouth with a hand. "Ayanokōji-kun, you... you can't just say things like that!"
I couldn't help the grin that formed on my face as she struggled to form a coherent response, her flustered state amusing to witness.
"Oh, I wasn't talking about that, Ichinose," I countered, my voice calm and matter-of-fact, as if I hadn't just made a provocative suggestion. "I was referring to food. You know, as in, if you don't feed me soon, I might have to resort to fast food or order food online."
Her blush deepened, a mix of relief and embarrassment washing over her. "Oh... right... food. Yes, let's... let's get going."
Another day, another win for Ayanokōji Kiyotaka.
After about 15 minutes of walking, we finally reached her dorm, and Ichinose immediately started rummaging through her kitchen, gathering ingredients with a focused look on her face. I found a spot on the couch that was adjacent to the kitchen area, observing her with amusement.
"Feel free to relax, Ayanokōji-kun," she said over her shoulder, not turning to look at me as she continued her kitchen raid. "It might take a bit. I want to make sure this meal is perfect."
She truly was in the zone, if the white apron she was now sporting was any indicator.
I smiled, reclining back in the chair. "Take your time, Ichinose. I'm not in any rush."
As she moved around the kitchen with practiced ease, I found myself studying the room, my gaze falling on the various pictures and trinkets scattered around. There was a sense of warmth and comfort that pervaded the room, a stark contrast to the impersonal atmosphere of my own dorm.
... the former impersonal atmosphere of my dorm room.
Because Chiaki had gone through with her promise to infuse my room with an assortment of plush toys, and as ridiculous as they seemed, they did breathe life into my room.
Particularly that one dragon plushie with magenta eyes... that one especially.
Shaking off those thoughts, I turned my attention back to Ichinose.
Humming a soft tune to herself, Ichinose began to engage with the ingredients. Her movements were smooth and assured, an air of maturity enveloping her. It was a refreshing shift from the Ichinose I was familiar with, and it intrigued me.
Sensing my gaze, she tossed a playful smile in my direction. "No peeking, Ayanokōji-kun! This is meant to be a surprise."
"Interesting choice of words, Ecchinose," I casually noted, observing her from the comfort of the couch, while she swirled a wooden spoon in a pot of simmering stew. At my playful teasing, Ichinose's cheeks colored like the vivid tomatoes on the chopping board.
"That name again? I wasn't even saying anything out of line," she defended, a slightly irritated crease forming on her forehead as she sprinkled a dash of salt into the pot. "You're the one with the wandering thoughts, Ayanokōji-kun."
"And you're the one who provides the fuel," I replied, my tone light, my eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. "You do have a knack for doing it, unintentionally or not."
The sizzling sound of the stew seemed to echo her flustered state. She gave an exasperated sigh, like a release valve letting off steam. "It's not like that... You just enjoy stirring the pot and watching me squirm."
"Are you complaining, or is it a hidden compliment, Ecchinose?"
"It's a complaint!" she snapped, her hand gripped tighter on the wooden spoon. "You make it very difficult to keep my cool."
"Sounded like a maiden in love."
Caught off-guard, Ichinose's spoon stopped in mid-stir. The bubbles in the stew popped rhythmically, a background beat to her embarrassment. Regaining her composure, she grabbed a bunch of carrots, skillfully dicing them as if each slice could distance her further from my joke.
"I-It's not like that!" Her stammer echoed in the crisp sound of the knife hitting the chopping board. "You already have Yuki-chan, don't you? Why would you... why would you keep toying with me like this?"
"Are you implying that I can't have friendly banter with someone without it being romantic?" I questioned, my tone tinged with amusement.
"Friendly banters don't include jokes about kisses, Ayanokōji-kun," she shot back, pausing to wipe her damp hands on a towel. "At least... that's what Chihiro-chan told me."
Interesting. So Shiranami was coaching her?
I guess my days of bypassing Ichinose's radar were coming to an end. Shiranami must have shared some insights into the world of romance, albeit probably from her own perspective.
"They normally don't, I agree," I replied, nodding my head. "But... was our friendship ever normal? Remember that time when we interviewed for the Student Council? You definitely started it."
"And I quote, 'Would you also kiss me for a dare, Ayanokōji-kun?' You played that card, not me."
Ichinose's eyes widened, and she fumbled with the knife in her hand, nearly dropping it. The color drained from her face, and her voice came out as a squeak. "I-I... I did say that, didn't I?"
"You certainly did, Ichinose. You're just as guilty as I am," I smiled, my tone teasing, as I watched her recover and resume chopping, this time the sharp rhythm on the chopping board mirroring her embarrassment.
"But... it was just to... test you. And it was a spur-of-the-moment thing... then..."
She carefully laid the knife down and busied herself arranging the diced carrots into a neat pile—a silent cue for the next sentence.
"And then what?"
"Your... answer..."
"Only if it'd last longer than a minute," I repeated, an amused smile forming on my lips.
Ichinose's face contorted into a mix of embarrassment and frustration, her cheeks ablaze with color. She attempted to regain her composure, but her voice wavered slightly as she spoke.
"Would you really do that? Ki... kiss me for that long?"
I settled comfortably into the couch, my eyes twinkling with mirth. Her wide-eyed innocence made it hard not to escalate the banter.
"Would you like to find out, Ichinose?" My tone was suggestive and playful. "After all, I'm not one to shy away from experiments."
"N-No! I was just... curious. It was... hypothetical."
"Pity," I replied, a note of mock disappointment in my voice. "Well, we'll never know, then."
"You're impossible, Ayanokōji-kun," she sighed, stirring the stew as though trying to dissolve her embarrassment in it. "Always teasing me like this."
"I can't help it if you give me such great material to work with," I responded, a playful smile dancing on my lips. "Besides, you shouldn't stress over it. My words are pretty harmless."
She glanced up at me, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Is it really harmless? You know I'm not... experienced with these things. You could be taking advantage of me without me even realizing it."
"You're making me sound like a pervert."
"You're not?"
"Well, Ichinose, if I were a pervert, don't you think I would have made a move on you by now?" I countered, my voice low and teasing. "After all, you don't exactly shy away from my jokes. Embarrassed, sure... but you're normally cool with it."
During our time in the Student Council, Ichinose and I had grown closer. Not as close as she was with Yuki, of course, but enough that our friendly banter had blurred lines between platonic and romantic.
As I turned my gaze to the pink-haired girl, I noticed her face turning a shade redder, her eyes darting away from mine as she focused on her task with renewed intensity.
"I... I guess you have a point," she mumbled, her voice barely audible. "But sometimes, it's hard to distinguish between your jokes and... something more."
"I suppose I should apologize for that," I replied, flashing Ichinose a genuine smile. "Even though you're well aware of the boundaries between us... I guess it's normal to get confused sometimes."
Ichinose's hands stilled, and she glanced up at me, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. "You're apologizing?" she inquired, her tone teetering between shock and amusement. "I didn't expect that from you, Ayanokōji-kun."
I chuckled softly, the playful atmosphere lingering in the room. "Well, I may not always show it, but I do have a sense of responsibility," I responded, a hint of sincerity in my voice. "And if my teasing ever makes you uncomfortable or confused, I apologize for that."
She set the knife aside, leaning against the counter, her posture visibly relaxed. "Thank you, Ayanokōji-kun. I appreciate that."
A tranquil silence fell between us as Ichinose recommenced her cooking, her movements now imbued with newfound ease. The playful banter and teasing had momentarily subsided, replaced by a sense of calmness and serenity.
And as the delectable aroma permeated the room, I found my mouth watering in anticipation. My hunger wasn't just for the food but for the experience of sharing a meal prepared by Ichinose. It held an extra allure.
Every guy knew a home-cooked meal whipped up by a beautiful girl tasted better than gourmet... unless, of course, the girl was someone like Yuki, with her notorious lack of culinary skills. But that's a tale for another time.
"Ayanokōji-kun, would you lend a hand in setting the table?" Ichinose's voice, gentle yet assertive, jolted me out of my musings.
Rising to my feet, I joined her in the task, accepting the plates and cutlery she passed me. A domestic rhythm took hold as we worked side by side, punctuated only by the occasional clink of pans and the seductive hiss of food sizzling on the stove. The atmosphere was unpretentious and strangely comforting.
Finally, Ichinose placed the finished meal on the table, a proud smile on her face. "Ta-da! Lunch is served."
"Let's see if you're actually as good as you claim to be," I challenged lightly.
Her response was a playful shove to my shoulder. "Don't doubt my skills, Ayanokōji-kun! I promise you'll be impressed."
As we sat down and began eating, I couldn't help but notice the intimate atmosphere that had settled around us.
I wondered then, if this was what Ichinose had intended when she invited me over. If it was, she had played her cards well. If not... well, it was an unexpected but pleasant surprise.
After finishing the meal, we allowed the silence to settle comfortably between us. Ichinose looked satisfied, a soft, contented glow lighting up her face. Her enthusiasm for cooking sparked a curious interest in me. I was drawn to this different, more domestic side of her.
Suddenly, she cleared her throat, delicate as a wind chime in the breeze. "Ayanokōji-kun, would you mind... staying a bit longer?" she proposed, her tone wavering between hesitation and hope.
I raised an eyebrow at her, genuinely surprised by her invitation. But I wasn't going to say no to her. It might be interesting.
"Sure. I got some time."
Relief and anticipation danced in her eyes, brightening them to an even more vibrant hue.
"Well... um, I was thinking we could... watch a movie," she murmured, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her apron. "Only if... you're alright with it, of course."
"A movie? What do you have in mind?"
She bit her lip nervously, and I could see a flash of something in her eyes. Determination, perhaps? "I've heard about this horror movie... The Babadook," she said, her voice just a notch above a whisper. "I've been wanting to watch it, but... well, I didn't want to do it alone."
"So, I'm your shield now?" I jested, trying to defuse the tension. Her anxiety was almost palpable.
"Yes... I mean," she paused, her cheeks blooming a gentle pink. "It could be... less scary with someone else around."
My eyebrow quirked upwards at Ichinose's careful rephrasing. It seemed as if she had always intended to watch this movie with me.
Suddenly, a realization hit me— could she have known the restaurant would be closed and had this backup plan ready all along?
"Well," I replied, concealing my inner amusement behind a casual facade. "I haven't watched a movie in a while. Sure, I'll join you."
Her face lit up again at my response. "Really? That's great!" She squeaked, her previous apprehension temporarily overshadowed by joy. "Let me set it up."
She vanished into another part of her dorm, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The gears in my head continued to turn, linking the invite to her room, the homemade meal, and now an invitation to watch a horror movie. It all felt slightly orchestrated yet uncannily subtle.
However, I quickly dismissed the theory, chiding myself for overthinking. "This is Ichinose we're talking about," I reminded myself. "There's just no way."
The idea that she'd have a hidden agenda was both amusing and incredibly unlikely.
"Ayanokōji-kun, are you ready?" Her voice echoed from the living area, interrupting my thoughts. Upon entering, I found her nestled on the couch, a pillow on her lap, a blanket from beneath, and her laptop open on the coffee table. The room was dimly lit, the perfect setting for what we were about to watch.
"Of course."
With that, I settled comfortably next to her on the couch, ensuring there was enough space between us to keep things casual. She pulled a blanket over our laps, her movements hesitant but deliberate.
The flickering light from the laptop screen painted the room with dancing shadows, their rhythmic undulations mirroring the eventual suspenseful atmosphere of the movie.
And as the movie began, I caught Ichinose stealing a glance at me. She was clearly unsure about how to behave in this intimate setup.
She really wasn't anticipating the vibe to feel like this.
In an attempt to lighten the mood, I turned to her, a playful glint in my eyes. "Don't worry, Ichinose. I won't bite... unless that's what you're hoping for."
A wave of crimson washed over her cheeks, and she swiftly averted her gaze. "Why... why would I even want that?"
"Experience?"
The pillow that hit my face was soft, but the message was clear—no more teasing... for now.
As we delved deeper into the movie, Ichinose's fear seemed to fade into an odd thrill. Each ominous sound and sudden visual brought out varied reactions from her - from her squeezing the poor pillow out of fright to the squeaks of terror that escaped her lips.
My own attention oscillated between the movie and her, enjoying the diverse range of emotions playing out on her face. Ichinose's unfiltered emotions—the raw fear, her sincere reactions, the candid expressions— were all out on display, making her more adorable, if that was even possible.
At one particularly terrifying scene, Ichinose squealed and buried her face into my shoulder. "This is so scary!" she whimpered, her voice muffled by my shirt.
I shook my head in amusement, patting her back reassuringly. "You chose the movie Ichinose."
"I know..." She managed to respond, her voice laced with apprehension. "But I didn't realize it was this scary."
The movie wasn't overly terrifying; it was Ichinose's heightened sensitivity towards horror movies that made it seem so.
This fact was further substantiated when a sudden jumpscare had her gasping and curling up into the blanket, as if it could shield her from the menacing figure on the screen.
"Are you okay, Ichinose?" I inquired, struggling to keep the amusement out of my voice.
"I...I'm fine," she mumbled, her eyes peeping out from above the blanket's edge, attempting to catch the remaining scene with a brave front.
"We could change it to a rom-com or an adventure movie if you'd like."
"No," she refused, her voice betraying a sense of determination that surprised me. "I...I can handle it."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded, her eyes meeting mine. Under the subtle illumination of the screen, her cheeks glowed with a soft blush. "Yes...yes. I can deal with it!"
I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped me. "Your death grip on the blanket seems to disagree."
"N-No, it doesn't!" she stammered, hastily letting go of the blanket as if it had burnt her.
Shaking my head lightly, I reassured her, "It's okay, Ichinose. Horror movies are supposed to be scary."
She blinked at me, her eyes wide and full of innocence. It was a sight that called for some light teasing. "But don't worry, I won't let the Babadook get you."
Her lips stretched into a timid smile, her body relaxing a bit. "Thank you, Ayanokōji-kun."
As the movie's plot thickened, Ichinose's interest in the film deepened. Her eyes glimmered with a strange blend of fear and excitement, clutching her pillow a bit tighter with every suspenseful twist. She'd occasionally emit a soft gasp, her chest rising and falling with each breath she took.
All the while, I found myself more engrossed in her reactions than in the film itself. The subtle rise and fall of her breath, the way her eyes would widen, the way she would gasp at every new plot point—every little gesture was far more captivating than the play of shadows and tense atmosphere on the screen.
We could probably produce a movie solely based on her facial expressions. And since Ichinose was beautiful and cute, I was sure people would watch. I knew I would.
"Did you see that?!" Ichinose asked in a hushed whisper after one particularly unsettling scene. "Wasn't that terrifying?"
"The cinematography is quite impressive," I mused, my gaze lingering on the screen. "They've utilized light and shadows effectively to create the ambiance."
"T-That's not what I was talking about," she mumbled. "You're really not scared at all, are you?"
"Hmm," I hummed, not removing my gaze from the screen, "Horror movies don't really scare me. I tend to look at the scriptwriting and the vision for movies of this genre to see if they'll follow the usual jumpscare tropes or if they'll do something different."
"Good thing it didn't have too many jumpscares... or else," I paused, glancing at the pouting Ichinose.
"Shut up... weren't you supposed to protect me from the Babadook? Why are you teasing me instead?"
"Since horror movies don't scare me, I find teasing you to be more entertaining," I shot back, a smile on my face. "Besides, you're doing a great job protecting yourself. No way the Babadook would try to get you if you throw a pillow at him."
She huffed, tossing me a disapproving glance, but her lips were curled up in a soft smile. Despite the fear and discomfort, she was enjoying herself. And I was, too.
Around the halfway point of the film, we got through the scene in the bedroom where the mother saw The Babadook crawl across the ceiling and lunge at her. This scared Ichinose to the point she hugged me in comfort, hiding her face on my chest.
"Ichinose," I started, my voice dropping to a whisper to match the mood of the movie, "If you keep hiding whenever you get startled, you're going to miss the movie."
The pink-haired girl then slowly glanced at me. "But it's still too scary!" she confessed, her voice almost childlike in its fear.
"Alright," I conceded, offering her a small, comforting smile. "How about this... whenever a scary scene comes up, just hold onto my arm, okay?"
For a moment, she glanced at me, her eyes wide and uncertain. But after a beat, she gave me a small nod, her grip on my arm tightening slightly. It seemed that my proposal gave her a sense of security.
And as the movie continued, Ichinose's grip on my arm tightened and relaxed along with the movie's tempo.
I really should have offered it from the start, now that I thought about it.
"Do you feel better now?" I asked during one of the movie's quieter moments, turning my gaze away from the screen to look at her.
She blinked, startled by my question, and then slowly nodded. "Yes, I think so... Thank you, Ayanokōji-kun," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Eventually, the movie's ending credits began to roll, the once suspenseful room now calming to a comfortable quiet. Ichinose slumped against the couch, the adrenaline rush from the movie visibly draining from her. She closed her eyes and sighed in relief, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
It was during this serene moment that I felt her shift closer to me. I froze for a second, surprised at the sudden proximity. Ichinose's shoulder gently nudged mine, her body seeming to gravitate towards me naturally.
"We...we did it," she said, her voice laced with pride. "I... I made it through!"
I turned to her, ready to tease her again about her getting terrified, but the words died in my throat. In the dim light of the room, her face looked serene and peaceful, the soft glow casting a radiant aura around her. Her eyes were half-closed, her gaze not meeting mine. Instead, she was looking at my lips.
I felt a jolt of surprise. Was she thinking of...?
Before I could fully process the thought, Ichinose closed the distance between us. But instead of the kiss I had expected, she leaned in and hugged me, her head resting on my shoulder. She was close, so close that I could smell the sweet scent of her hair and feel the warmth of her body against mine.
"Thank you, Ayanokōji-kun," she whispered into my ear, her voice soft and soothing. "I don't think I could've done it without you."
Her sudden display of affection left me surprised, but I managed to hide it well. My hands went around her in a gentle hug, careful not to hold her too tightly.
"You're welcome, Ichinose," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "And who knows, maybe next time you can pick a less frightening movie."
She laughed then, a quiet, melodic sound that made the corners of my mouth tug upwards. "Maybe," she agreed, her tone playful.
As the room fell silent, the soft humming of the laptop filled the air. The credits had long since ended, leaving the screen in darkness. The room was dimly lit, painting a soft silhouette around Ichinose. I looked at her, a soft smile playing on her lips, and couldn't help but admire her in the faint light.
Her face was close, very close. I could count her lashes if I wanted to. I was aware of our proximity, the warmth radiating from her body, and her steady breathing against my shoulder.
For a fleeting moment, I found myself pondering the 'what if?'—the underlying tension that had unspooled throughout the afternoon. It wasn't uncomfortable or unpleasant. Rather, it added an extra layer to our interaction, one that hadn't existed before.
"Does that mean you want to watch another movie?" I asked, breaking the tranquil silence that had befallen us.
She seemed to think for a moment, and then shook her head, her hair brushing against my shoulder. "Nope! I think it's time for me to let you go, Ayanokōji-kun," she said with a soft laugh. "You've already seen enough!"
"I guess so," I said, leaning back slightly as I extricated myself from her embrace. "I've gotten enough material to tease you with."
Her face flushed as she chuckled, avoiding my gaze as she rose from the couch. "Please take it easy on me."
Ichinose then proceeded to shut down her laptop and tidy up the area, her movements still filled with a subtle grace despite her weariness from the movie.
She then turned to me, her eyes glinting with something unspoken. "Thank you again, Ayanokōji-kun," she said, a hint of finality to her tone.
I shrugged, replying with my usual nonchalance. "Thank you as well. I enjoyed myself."
With a soft smile on her lips, she walked me to the door, our goodbyes as casual as our greetings had been hours ago.
It wasn't until I was walking down the corridor, leaving behind her room and the odd tranquility that had prevailed in it, that I found myself pondering over the afternoon. The range of emotions that Ichinose had gone through, her candid reactions, the unexpected invitation, her vulnerability... all of it had added a layer of complexity to my understanding of her.
I glanced at my watch, showing me that it was 3:45 PM. It seemed like I stayed far longer than I had initially intended.
But did I regret it? Not at all.
Today was an interesting deviation from my usual schedule, one that left me pondering as I made my way back to my room.
End of Chapter
A/N: Finally! A Honami spotlight! I had plenty of drafts and other ideas on how to present the whole thing, but I decided to go for this.
Did Honami deliberately plan this, as Kiyotaka speculated? No, no, she didn't. She's still a good girl here. Everything just unfolded because she felt bad that her planning went awry with the restaurant being closed for repairs, so she decided to make it up to Kiyotaka.
Why was Kiyotaka basically letting Honami get away with things? Even Canon Kiyotaka allowed himself to get dragged around by Honami (Evil Eye while looking at the Y2 V9.5 previews) and in this story, it had been hinted in some chapters that Kiyotaka had some level of attraction towards her... and this guy's curiosity treaded... questionable waters.
(Yes, he's disappointed he got a hug instead.)