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 1: Prologue - A Change in Philosophy

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka

Many people have preached that society must continually work toward equality.

These same people advocate for equal treatment of men and women, resulting in increased employment opportunities for women, specialized transportation accommodations for them, and the like.

Public opinion about individuals with disabilities has also evolved. We were now encouraged to use more inclusive language when referring to them to avoid discrimination.

With these images established, it had become clearer that the preachings of inclusivity and progressiveness had rung louder than they had ever been before.

This discussion then leads us to the teachings being taught in our educational system. Aside from the usual subjects of Mathematics, Japanese, History, Sciences, and others, schools also imparted to kids some philosophical tenets.

One of those teachings?

All people are created equal.

But was this truly true? Or was this another propaganda launched in an attempt to cinch in the ideal of an equal society?

Because when you look deeper into the picture, the topic of equality covers different contrasts, for example, the everlasting debate over equality between men and women.

Now, if we tackle this issue in a simplistic argument, it would go like this: if men and women have different strengths, then they should fill different roles. And if we go back to the topic of disabled people, regardless of how much we try to sugarcoat the issue, the fact remains that they... are disabled people.

No matter how we try to paint the picture differently, the reality remains the same.

So, my answer would be, "No, people weren't equal— they never were."

I would even go as far as to claim that equality is an illusion crafted by powerful men to provide society with a shared ideal to strive for.

However, it is an ideal that will remain just that... an ideal.

And to extend the issue beyond gender and disabilities, let's also consider other nuances that counter the ideal of equality: systemic biases on race, socioeconomic status, appearance, and cultural background, among others.

This simply means that even though the ideals of equality had been constantly preached, the fact remains that humanity is prone to its own biases, which serves as an antithesis to this ideal.

In fact, the very notion of equality is closely tied to the concept of meritocracy, which I believe is flawed and, in most cases, invalid.

The belief that hard work and talent are the only things that determine success is a fallacy. In reality, factors like family background, social connections, and economic status play a crucial role in determining success.

The concept of meritocracy generally operates under the assumption that everyone starts on a relatively equal footing, competing solely based on their skills and talents. However, this notion overlooks the inherent differences among individuals, such as their backgrounds and resources.

Ignoring these disparities and treating everyone the same can be counterproductive, as it can perpetuate and even exacerbate the unequal distribution of opportunities.

With this, I'll reiterate my previous stance: equality is a myth. The very idea of equality is a tool used to appease those in the lower echelons of society, to allow them to be content with their disadvantageous situations.

Because, again, to be human is to be unequal.

That being said, I don't think it right to simply say that we are unequal and then live our lives based on pure instinct.

In other words, even though the ideal of equality is a complete lie, we simply couldn't accept inequality either.

Right now, I'm trying to find a new answer to one of humanity's eternal questions.

What should be our guiding principle if not equality?

Perhaps the answer lies in embracing the concept of equity instead. While equality is the idea that everyone should be treated the same, equity is the notion that people should be treated fairly, accounting for their unique circumstances and needs. This means providing individuals with the support and resources they require to achieve success, regardless of their background or abilities.

In an equitable society, people would be given the tools and opportunities they need to reach their full potential, recognizing and addressing the systemic barriers that exist. This would involve acknowledging the inherent differences among individuals, but also working to ensure that everyone has access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.

However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that implementing equity might not be as feasible as it initially appeared.

To truly achieve equity, society would need to be able to accurately identify and address the unique needs of every individual. This would require an extensive understanding of each person's background, abilities, and challenges, as well as the resources and support necessary to meet those needs. The sheer complexity and scale of such a task would be immense, and even with the best intentions, it might be impossible to achieve perfect equity.

Moreover, the pursuit of equity could potentially lead to an overemphasis on identifying and categorizing people based on their differences, which could inadvertently create further divisions within society. Additionally, determining what constitutes fair treatment could be highly subjective, leading to disagreements and conflict over resource allocation and support.

Now... why am I talking about this?

Why am I discussing the concepts of equality and equity in conjunction with searching for the ultimate guiding principle that humanity should attempt to follow?

Simple.

I have come to realize that to be human... entails these things: having a goal, a desire, and an objective to chase.

When I was 13 years old, I did not have an individual purpose or a desire to be anything.

I was just content with being part of the machine, only to be told what to do rather than do what I wanted to do.

But since then, I have learned that having a purpose and striving towards a goal is what makes us truly human.

And for me, my goal was to find the answer to the question that those before me had failed to answer: What should be the ideal that humanity must follow?

This was most certainly not the ideal my father had wanted me to reach, and that makes it even more perfect.

After all...

This simply means that I had become my own person.

Before, I scoffed at the idea of becoming a high school student, thinking I had learned everything that place could offer.

Who would have thought that it'd be the same place that would reshape how I see the world and how I want to change the world?

It has been one hell of a ride, hasn't it?

Now, let's start from the very beginning.

End of Chapter