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 3. Chapter 4 - The Ideal Start
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
As Chabashira-sensei stepped to the side, I instructed the class to form a circle. It was to somehow put out the image that our class was already united. I could see some odd looks from students from other classes, no doubt confused by what was happening with our class, but I paid them no mind.
That said, the scorching sun already cast harsh shadows on the sand, promising a relentless afternoon. I then noted the weary faces of my classmates, the droplets of sweat trickling down foreheads, and the occasional squints against the sunlight. It was a vivid picture of discomfort under nature's mercy.
"I'm sure everyone is concerned about the approach our class will take for this exam," I began, my voice carrying clearly across the sound of the lapping waves. "But before anything else, it is important for us to find a base camp as soon as possible. Once we've found a suitable location and set up our camp, we can start discussing the specifics of our strategies. Is that alright with everyone?"
Low murmurs of agreement echoed through the ranks of my classmates. There were quick nods, furrowed brows, lips pressed into determined lines. They seemed to implicitly trust my judgment, waiting for further instructions with their gazes fixed on me.
"As usual, Yōsuke, Yuki, and I will take the lead here," I continued, nodding towards the mentioned duo. I then turned towards the boys, giving them a quick, assessing glance. "Now, about the tent. I want the boys to help us carry them. Since that's around 15kg each, four of you guys should be enough. For the others, I want you to help out in carrying other things as well. The more of us who work, the faster we get things done."
"For the girls, it's fine if you would want to sit it out for now. But I'll be expecting your help later in procuring resources," I added. Some of the girls were still uneasy due to the unresolved issue of our toilet condition. Forcing something onto them right now would be a bad idea.
"But for Yuki, Chiaki, Kayano, and Kushida, I want you to help out later in drafting a map of the island. You'll be grouped with some of the boys in scouting the areas," I addressed the four girls, who eagerly nodded at my request.
The manual given to us earlier included a simple map of the island, with only its size and shape drawn. Things like the total area of the forest and the topography were completely unknown. It was practically useless as it was. With that in mind, scouting the island was among the primary priorities for us.
"Good plan, Kiyotaka. But what's our next move?" Yuki asked.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Class A beginning to mobilize. "Here's the plan. Class A is moving out, most likely towards the forest, to establish a base," I said, subtly gesturing towards the bustling group. "Seeing that they're heading west, we should aim for the east side of the island. We have to act swiftly. If we settle our base first, Classes C and D will be forced to choose from what's left over, most likely the center."
Kushida's hands came together in a sharp clap, her face brightening with understanding. "I get it, Ayanokōji-kun! By doing this, we can predict the other classes' movements too," she noted.
"Right on! Avoiding an early clash with Class A is definitely smart," Karuizawa chimed in, her head bobbing in agreement.
"Man, Ayanokōji-kun's brain never stops, does it?"
"Isn't that just like him?"
"Let's do this! More spots for us, less for them on the east side!"
They sure were excited...
"Before we set off, I have a few more things to share with everyone. First, safety is paramount. We'll be exploring unknown territory, so stick together and avoid taking unnecessary risks," I began, scanning the faces of my classmates.
"Second, while we search for our base, everyone should be on the lookout. We need a spot that's safe, close to a water source, and offers a good vantage point. Additionally, a spot with a natural shelter would be a bonus."
"Lastly, we should communicate effectively during our search. If you find a potential spot or run into any issues, alert the rest of us immediately," I finished.
"And with that, let's get moving."
My final words were met with an affirmative hum. As we prepared to move out, the charged energy of the group was palpable. The wind carried the sounds of their anticipation as we started on our path.
Eventually, we passed by Ichinose's Class C, and as we did, Yuki excitedly waved her arms around after spotting the pink-haired girl.
"Honami-chan!" she called out, waving enthusiastically.
Ichinose, still in deep discussion with her class, turned around, her friendly wave cutting through the tension of the moment. Her classmates followed suit, exchanging friendly gestures with the familiar faces in our class.
"It's amazing how close Ichinose-san and Tsubaki-san are," Yōsuke noted, observing the fleeting interaction between our classes.
"They're best friends," I responded with a casual shrug.
"So, should I expect Ichinose-san to have a crush on you then?" Yōsuke teased, his laughter ringing through the air. "After all, Matsushita-san is also her best friend... and we both know how your relationship with her is."
"Do you have nothing better to think about?" I shot back, a wry smile creeping onto my lips.
"None at all," Yōsuke replied, his laughter blending into the sound of rustling leaves and crashing waves.
4.1
Weaving our way through the dense undergrowth, we made our way towards the east side of the forest. The scene was surprisingly serene, with the thick canopy of leaves providing us with much-needed shade from the harsh midday sun. All around us, the forest was alive with the soft rustling of leaves and the distant symphony of bird songs, the tranquility of the landscape striking a stark contrast to the tense anticipation that hung in the air amongst us.
Our quick planning had allowed us to evade any immediate encounters with the other classes. And with the immediate threat of confrontation lifted, my classmates began to relax somewhat, their hushed voices blending seamlessly with the calming sounds of the forest.
A few minutes into our journey, Yuki and I, who were leading the way, halted our tracks. The sudden break in our stride turned heads, drawing the attention of the class towards us. The forest fell silent, the only sound coming from the soft sigh of the wind through the trees.
"Now that we're in a safe place," Yuki began, her gaze sweeping over the tall, leafy trees towering above us, the verdant undergrowth and the dotted shadows dancing on the forest floor. "Is there anyone here who has experience with the outdoors? I have to admit, I'm not too used to camping or the like." Her confession was accompanied by a sheepish giggle that seemed to light up the faces of some of the boys.
My eyes turned to Kōenji, who simply smirked upon noticing my look. The blonde-haired boy then shook his head upon realizing the unasked question.
I let out a sigh. Although I knew Kōenji helping out was a shot to the moon, it would have been great if he would just help us out. After all, Kōenji had tremendous outdoor skills based on the couple of camping trips he, Eiichiro, and I went on as part of our "Boys Gathering." Well... it was more of a trip between the two of us, as he simply treated Eiichiro more of an errand boy than a companion.
Aware of the curious, expectant eyes on me, I cleared my throat, "I've only camped twice, so my experience is limited here," I admitted.
I knew of the basic survival stuff and some things to look out for, but I was far from an expert in the field. Hopefully, there was someone else in the class with decent camping skills.
Looking around, none of our classmates raised their hands. In fact, most of them had conflicted looks on their face, probably out of disappointment that they wouldn't be able to help in this regard.
This stayed for a few seconds before Ike slowly raised his hand, hesitantly glancing around.
"Uhh..."
His voice trailed off as Yuki swiftly took the reins of the conversation. "Ike-kun, do you have any experience with moving around in this environment? It would be of great help to the class if you could teach us a thing or two."
"I don't know if it's considered experience, but I used to go camping with my family ever since I was a kid..." Ike explained. "Ah—but of course, I'm nothing compared to those who were in the boy scouts. If anyone in here was a member, then they're probably more worthy of your time. Hahaha..."
"Seriously, Kanji? You've camped before? Like building a whole campfire and other things?" Yamauchi asked him, sharing everyone's surprise at Ike's revelation.
Ike turned his head to Yamauchi. "Yeah... but I'm not as good as my dad with some of these things, though," he replied.
"That's still something!"
"I guess..."
Ike would've normally been very hyped up to tell us all about his camping expertise. However, he was probably discouraged from being overly exuberant due to being chided by Shinohara and some of the girls earlier. For Ike, who normally only cared about being attractive to the ladies, that admonishment had to hurt.
"Well, it doesn't seem like anyone else fits the bill. I want you to lead the class with us, Ike. I'm sure your knowledge would be helpful," I interjected, attempting to instill some confidence in him. I didn't know how much Ike really knew, but as of this moment, he was our best shot.
"That would be great! Can you lend us your help, Ike-kun?" Yōsuke asked.
"Uhh... if you guys are fine with it. Sure, I'd do it," Ike replied, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
Upon Ike's agreement, Yuki clapped her hands to gain everyone's attention. "If anyone has some sort of survival skills like Ike-kun, please feel free to let everyone know. We're all in this together, alright?"
Her words reverberated through our group, urging cooperation and unity. It was easier said than done, but as long as we could avoid any serious internal conflict, we'd probably be fine.
4.2
Island Exam Day 1 (9:40 AM)
"Have you taken note of our route thus far, Yuki?" I asked, my eyes flicking to the blonde-haired girl as we maneuvered our way over a gnarled tree root.
"Mhm-mm!" Yuki's reply was accompanied by an affirmative nod of her head, her focus still primarily on the forested path before us. "But can you let me see the map of the manual for a bit? I might be able to guess where we currently are."
Without a word, I reached into my backpack, the nylon fabric crinkling as I drew out the manual and handed it to her.
"Geez... this map is practically useless," she muttered, her brows furrowing slightly in concentration. A sigh escaped her lips, but it wasn't one of frustration— more like a resigned acceptance of the task before her.
After a few moments of silent contemplation, she placed her index finger on the middle-right part of the map, it was a few areas away from the East side of the beach, or at least that was what I assumed that was. "We probably around here if we assume that our starting point earlier was from there," Yuki explained, pointing at the Southwest part of the map. "I'd assume that's where we were gathered near the edge. The shapes add up too."
Great observation skills. I've come to the same conclusion myself, but it was reassuring to have another person who thought the same.
"Ike, come here for a while," I called out to Ike, who was talking with Miyamoto and Yamauchi.
"What's up?" Ike asked, looking from Yuki to me as he approached us.
"Yuki and I agree that we're probably on this side of the island," I said, pointing at the area Yuki had identified on the map. "I'd like to ask for your input on what should be our priority here."
Ike nodded, taking a moment to glance over the map. "You mentioned something about finding a water source earlier, right?" He asked. "That really should be our priority. Looking for our main base could wait for a bit..."
"Hmm... that works," I agreed, nodding my head at his practical assessment.
"And based on this map, there should be a river along the way," I added, tracing my finger along a line that potentially indicated a watercourse. "Although, I'm not sure if these things are obstacles or a spring."
"We could just try and find out," Ike suggested, shrugging his shoulders.
"I agree. Well, thanks for your input, Ike," I praised him, to which he responded with a grin that reached his eyes.
"Anytime, man!" His grin widened, and he gave us a casual salute before heading back to his friends.
About ten minutes later, we stumbled upon a clearing with a large tree casting a generous pool of shade. Noticing the sweat beading on everyone's foreheads and the weary slump of their shoulders, I decided it was time for a little break.
"Alright, guys, let's stop for a while," I instructed, motioning to the shade. "I could see everyone sweating and starting to get tired, so it would be best if we cooled off for a bit."
A collective sigh of relief swept through the group as they collapsed into the shade, some propping their backs against the tree's broad trunk, while others stretched out on the leaf-strewn ground.
4.3
Island Exam Day 1 (10:20 AM)
After a soothing break under the dense canopy of the forest, I decided it was time to get moving again. Not wanting to risk any further delays, I called everyone to their feet.
Our destination was still a long way off, and although the idea of basking in the cool shade was alluring, we had a task at hand. A collective murmur of agreement echoed around the group, and soon, everyone was back on their feet.
As we resumed our trek through the undergrowth, I noticed Yuki glancing my way. There was a thoughtful expression on her face, her eyebrows knit together in concentration. After a moment, she turned to me, her voice breaking the rhythm of our footfalls and the rustling leaves.
"Have you ever wondered just how much money the government injects into ANHS?" She asked, a curious tilt in her voice. "This large island probably costs hundreds of millions of yen, and that's just in acquiring the island. We still haven't taken into account the maintenance of stuff."
Her question was somewhat unexpected, but given her background, it wasn't all too surprising. Yuki was, after all, the daughter of a real estate mogul.
"I have my guesses," I replied nonchalantly. "And it's probably why none of the expenditure made for ANHS is public record."
Her laughter rang through the air, a light, easy sound that seemed to blend with the gentle hum of the forest. "Barely anything is," she agreed, her voice still laced with mirth.
Curiosity piqued, I probed further, "But what's with the question?"
"Nothing too deep, really," she began, the words flowing with an easygoing rhythm. "It's just weird how the school had all these facilities at their disposal. I mean, no other school owns a private island, you know?"
She had a point there.
We continued our march, the forest's sounds and sights acting as our backdrop. The feeling of the ground under my feet and the whispers of the wind through the leaves became almost meditative until a subtle shift in the air caused me to halt.
The temperature had dropped ever so slightly, just enough to be noticed. As if on cue, Ike's form detached from the group and approached me.
"You feel that, Ayanokōji? It's suddenly cooler. I'm no expert, but I'd bet that means we're near a large body of water," he murmured, eyes scanning our surroundings alertly.
He was observant, I'd give him that.
"I agree. Well then, can you ask Ken, Yōsuke, and Akito to go with you and scout the area?" I asked. With three of the more athletic guys in our class assisting him, they would surely do quicker work of locating the possible water source.
A slight hesitation crossed Ike's face before he asked, "Can I bring Haruki with me too?"
While Yamauchi was nowhere near athletic, I found no reason to say no. Ike probably just wanted to bring him along because he wasn't too close with Yōsuke and Akito.
"Yamauchi? Sure, take him as well," I replied, watching as Ike bolted off to round up his team.
As Ike and the rest of his scouting party began to move, a pensive Horikita came my way. Her brows furrowed in thought, her lips pursed as if wrestling with an inner struggle.
Despite the obvious seriousness of her thoughts, I couldn't resist teasing her.
"Something on your mind, Suz—"
Horikita quickly silenced me, her hand covering my mouth almost reflexively. Her eyes shot daggers at me. "Shut up. What did I say about dropping my name so casually?"
I removed her hand from my mouth, an amused look forming on my face. "For me not to get used to saying it. I could still count the number of times I said it, so I don't see why you'd react like that."
"... Our classmates could overhear us. It's embarrassing," she reasoned.
"Pretty sure only Yuki did," I replied, glancing at the blonde-haired girl, who seemed amused at the display. "And it seems like she doesn't care."
Horikita then turned her eyes to Yuki, who simply grinned at her.
Horikita's features softened, embarrassment now replaced with exasperation. "That's not the point."
"Sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood. Now, what's on your mind?"
She eyed me warily for a few moments, then averted her gaze. "Seeing Ike-kun and the others willingly work is great... but I just... I don't like being unable to contribute. I feel pretty useless," she confessed.
Yuki, who had heard her, reassured her immediately, "Don't worry too much about it, Horikita-san. Besides, it would be bad if you forced yourself."
"That's just the way things are when the battlefield is a territory you're not used to. Don't worry about it, Horikita. I will be asking for your help later," I added.
A soft smile crossed her face, her eyes reflecting a flicker of relief. She nodded gratefully, "Thanks, Ayanokōji-kun. I promise to be useful when the time comes."
I nodded in acknowledgment, my gaze trailing after the path Ike's team had taken. All that remained was to await their return and hopefully, bearing the news of a water source.
4.4
Island Exam Day 1 (10:45 AM)
The return of Ike's scouting party carried a tangible sense of success, if their faces were to go by. They were beaming, their faces aglow with the thrill of accomplishment.
"We found it! There's a river just a few minutes away!" Ike declared, his voice brimming with excitement.
His announcement was met with immediate enthusiasm by our classmates. The class erupted into cheers, their tension easing at the prospect of a reliable water source.
"Good job on finding it, guys!" Yuki praised them accordingly. "Ike-kun, can you lead the way for us?"
Ike gave Yuki a thumbs-up. "Sure thing, Tsubaki-chan!"
He then turned to me, a wide grin on his face. "You had an idea about the river all along, didn't you, Ayanokōji?"
I offered a simple nod in response, content to let Ike revel in his achievement. With nothing more left to be said, Ike led the class to the river they had found.
The walk to the river was longer than expected, taking about a quarter of an hour instead of a few minutes like Ike had estimated. It was probably because Ike had assessed the distance at a running pace instead of a normal walking speed. With the differing physical abilities of our classmates, that was just not gonna happen. Nevertheless, the sight and sound of the flowing water were worth the wait, and everyone was excited upon seeing it.
"For a deserted island, this river sure looks neat!"
"It's not so hot anymore!"
"We have water!"
"I want to swim on it. Like... right now!"
The river was about ten meters wide, and the water flowed gently. It was amazing. Deep forests and sandy roads surrounded the river, but this place looked as if it had been maintained. I doubted this location was so naturally perfect. Our school had likely set it up for this purpose.
"Kiyotaka, there's something we want you to see," Yōsuke called out to me, Ike following behind him as they approached me.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Well, Ike-kun saw a mechanism of some sort earlier. It's around there," Yōsuke replied, pointing a little further ahead.
"A mechanism? For occupying a spot?" I asked.
"I'm not sure, but well... just follow us, Ayanokōji," Ike said before he and Yōsuke guided me to the location they were hinting at. The rest of the class followed suit.
Not long later, we arrived at a rather conspicuous place. In front of us was an unnaturally placed boulder that stuck out on the riverside.
Yōsuke then pointed at the boulder. "This should be the equipment for occupying a spot. So, it's safe to assume that the river we found is one of the spots sensei had mentioned earlier," he announced.
A screen of some sort was attached to the boulder. But as Chabashira-sensei has said earlier, we'd need the leader's key card to officially occupy this spot.
"Wait... so this river is a spot?"
"That's great!"
"This is like the best one we could probably find!"
The class celebrated happily upon hearing Yōsuke's words.
As we further surveyed the riverside, we spotted a signboard affixed to a tree. A message read that the river was a designated spot and that unauthorized use was prohibited. That was reassuring. That meant that once we gained control over the river, everything here would be for our exclusive use.
Moments later, Chiaki approached me, her eyes scanning the landscape. "This should be a good place to set up camp, right Kiyotaka-kun?" she asked, her voice filled with anticipation. Kushida, Yuki, and Mori followed close behind, their expressions mirroring Chiaki's hopeful curiosity.
"Pretty much. We just need to find where exactly to set base," I replied, my gaze fixed on the distant foliage.
While Chabashira-sensei was outlining the rules earlier, I realized exactly why the cruise ship circled around the island for about thirty minutes. And while I had my suspicions earlier, I wasn't able to properly narrow it down due to the limited information that I held.
The cruise ship's half-hour circumnavigation around the island and well-timed stops, I realized, was its subtle way to hint us towards striking landmarks in the island that would serve as the 'spots' that we were supposed to occupy.
The west of the island was particularly rich with landmarks: a cave, a tower, a cliff, an unusual forest area, and a small gulf. These noticeable landmarks would naturally draw attention, and it made strategic sense that Class A would veer in that direction. However, two significant factors ruled this direction out.
Firstly, the notable lack of a substantial water source. Without this essential lifeline, establishing our base there would be untenable.
Secondly, the arrangement of the classes at the outset. With Class A positioned west-most from our starting point and Class B standing slightly further, we'd be racing against time and resources to beat them there. And so, even if we were to want to go west, we were at a considerable disadvantage due to said arrangement.
An alternative route could have been to head straight north, occupying the central part of the island. But if the striking landmarks I had noted earlier were actually spots, it made more sense to traverse eastward to monopolize the spots there. It would give us a significant edge over the other classes if we were able to occupy all the spots in the East.
In addition to that, the northeastern part of the island also boasted of a river, conveniently addressing my chief concern—securing a reliable water source.
Thus, the East was always my intended direction, but I still sought Ike's opinion to validate my perspective and to ensure no other alternatives were overlooked.
That being said, when we were still in the cruiser, I also noticed a small landform. At first, I thought it was another cave, but as the ship moved along, it actually turned out to be a small rock tunnel. I wondered if there was a spot in that place as well...
Further south of the eastern beach stood a giant live oak tree, a conspicuous landmark due to its sheer size. Although it was likely a spot was nearby, the absence of a reliable food and water source would render that place unsuitable as a base.
With these considerations in mind, this riverside was the best spot for us to choose. The assurance that it would be of exclusive use for the occupant made it an even more advantageous spot.
Turning my attention back to the class, I noticed many of them now engaging in casual conversation. Ken and Akito, however, took a different bonding route as they splashed water on each other's faces...
Just what happened there? But then again, I shouldn't be surprised due to how Ken and Akito bounced off each other.
Well, now that our immediate location was sorted, it was time to strategize further.
Gathering their attention with a clap of my hands, I addressed the class, "Alright, Class B. For now, we will be staying here on the riverside and relaxing for a while. Ken, Akito, I'll put you guys in charge of setting up a temporary camp. Call others to help you out."
"That being said, we should also aim to scout a more suitable and strategic spot within this riverside area for our base," I concluded.
"I agree with Ayanokōji-kun. We should find a more comfortable area for our base," Kushida chimed in, her agreement inviting more approval from the others.
Once the chatter subsided, I continued, "Well then, Yuki, Kushida, Ike, and Yōsuke, I'll be assigning you guys to look for a suitable spot. Is that fine with you?"
The four of them nodded, and after briefing them on further instructions, they headed out.
"Man, to think we have this area all to ourselves!" Yamauchi cheered. "We're definitely going to rock this exam!"
"Yeah! Being on this island doesn't seem too bad now," Hondo affirmed.
While they were cheering, I called over Chiaki, who immediately approached me.
"Chiaki, let sensei know we've chosen the riverside for our base," I told her, and she nodded before leaving to deliver the message.
Checking my wristwatch, it was 11:35 AM. A shadow of a smile crept on my face as the realization sunk in.
We'd accomplished significant progress in the initial three hours since the exam commenced, managing to secure a key spot without taking any unnecessary risks.
And despite already being assured my plan would bear fruit, I still felt a sense of accomplishment at this.
End of Chapter
A/N: This exam is so boring, man. In the next chapter, we'll have plenty of logistics in their discussion. But as much as I want to get back to writing about Chiaki/Kiyo/Yuki, I'd rather not neglect the Island Test.
Clarification:
Kōenji and Kiyotaka's past - As touched upon in Vol 1. Chap 5.5, Kiyotaka and Kōenji have these "boy's gatherings" that they do just to hang out. Now, it's revealed that in some of these gatherings, they were out camping alongside Eiichiro. This should reasonably explain why Kiyotaka had a little background about the outdoors. (People would probably miss this since it was pointed out like 30 chapters ago.)
Yuki's nonchalance - Yuki was within earshot when Kiyotaka almost called her Suzune. If you're confused about why she's calm about it, she had become less openly jealous of the other girls starting in Volume 2.
She would definitely remind Kiyotaka about what she heard, though.