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 8 - Kiyotaka's Game
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
Island Exam Day 2 (11:15 AM)
With a few steps of farewell to the shoreline, Shiina and I made our way back toward the others. The sand yielded under our feet, still warm from the sun's embrace. The waves' soft symphony lingered in my ears, a soothing backdrop to the thoughts racing in my mind. Shiina's words had brought a clearer picture of what the status of Class D looked like, and the briny scent of the sea seemed to sharpen my focus.
While it would seem that I was right in my assertion that Ryūen's stronghold of Class D would weaken upon the expulsion of Komiya and their subsequent loss of 300 Class Points, the potential opposition led by Tokito Hiroya would be unable to do anything substantial due to Tokito's own limitations as a leader.
He lacked the charisma, the compelling presence that could unite the disparate elements within Class D. A ship steered by Tokito would be akin to a band held together by a weak conductor; the music would inevitably fall into discord.
Of course, there was the possibility of convincing Shiina to take up leadership of Class D herself, but she wasn't interested in taking charge and firmly believed that Ryūen Kakeru was their class' lone hope for a possible ascension in our year's hierarchy.
Then again, it wasn't like I wanted Ryūen to step down.
I simply wanted to clip their wings and ensure they would stay at the bottom, as Class D. To do this, all I had to do was to ensure Ryūen only racked up losses, further loosening his hold over his classmates, who should begin to doubt if he could actually steer the ship.
Easier said than done.
As Shiina and I continued our walk, I couldn't shake off the calculating gaze of her violet eyes, forever curious and probing. It wasn't long before she broke the silence.
"You're thinking hard about something, aren't you, Ayanokōji-kun?" she asked, her voice gentle and almost melodious.
"I am," I admitted, not seeing any reason to conceal my contemplation.
"Hmm? What is it about?"
I turned my gaze towards her, a faint smile playing on my lips. "That... is a secret."
Shiina's eyes narrowed slightly, and the faintest of pouts formed on her lips. "Fine. Keep your secrets, then."
To my amusement, she didn't bother pressing the issue... but kept her pout.
Eventually, our path led us closer to the spot where my classmates and the students from Class D had congregated. They all seemed engrossed in casual banter, though I could sense a certain tension in Horikita's posture.
I felt Shiina's eyes on me as I scanned the area, locating my classmates and the students from Class D.
"Your classmates seem to be enjoying themselves," Shiina remarked, her eyes following mine to the lively group. "I would have thought they'd be more tense because of, well... Ryūen-kun."
"Ryūen was gracious enough to share Class D's luxuries with us," I replied, keeping my tone neutral, yet a hint of amusement breaking through. "I simply told them to indulge themselves."
Shiina let out a soft giggle, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "That must have taken him by surprise. Yesterday, when Class C visited, they left almost as soon as they arrived. He must have been expecting the same thing from Class B."
"Which students from Class C came?" I asked.
"Ichinose-san, Kanzaki-kun, and Shibata-kun. Oh, and Kanzaki-kun and Ryūen-kun had a small argument that Ryūen-kun just laughed off," she replied.
"Of course he did. He finds these arguments amusing, especially when he knows he has the upper hand," I remarked, shaking my head in amusement.
"I've observed that as well," Shiina agreed, a thoughtful look on her face. "But it's not only when he has the upper hand. He enjoys every single chance to get in someone's head. Well... it's not like it'll work on you."
"In fact, Ryūen-kun is uncharacteristically guarded against you, Ayanokōji-kun," Shiina added, a knowing smile appearing on her face. "Don't tell him you heard that from me, though!"
"He is, huh? It sure didn't seem that way earlier."
After all, Ryūen seemed pretty eager to try and unnerve me earlier.
"Hmm... you'll figure it out eventually," she cryptically said.
"Is that so? I'll see it for myself, then," I replied, letting the conversation trail off into a comfortable silence as we drew closer to our destination.
The distance between us and the gathered students gradually closed, and the soft murmur of conversations became more distinguishable, forming a discordant melody that the wind carried our way.
As I cast my gaze over the group, I could see that the mood hadn't changed a bit — they were still having fun, their faces flushed from the sun and laughter.
But for some reason... Azuma had Tokito in a headlock. The others seemed half amused, half concerned.
"Well, this is... unexpected," Shiina murmured, her brows furrowing slightly as she, too, took in the scene, a puzzled look dancing in her eyes. "Do you know what's going on?"
"To be honest, I'm just as clueless as you are," I admitted, my eyes never leaving Azuma and Tokito.
Horikita's sharp eyes spotted us first, her eyes narrowing slightly as she registered our presence. She stood slightly apart from the others, her posture guarded.
The rest of my classmates, as well as the three Class D students, soon followed her gaze, their conversations momentarily pausing as they turned to regard us. Shiina seemed unfazed by the attention, only offering them a small smile.
"Oh, you're back, Ayanokōji-kun," Azuma said, her arms still wrapped around Tokito's neck.
What a strange sight.
I looked over at Akito, who was just watching everything unfold as usual, and asked, "Can you explain what happened here, Akito?"
Akito shrugged, his eyes flicking between Azuma and Tokito. "It started as a joke, but Azuma decided to take it a bit too far."
"Too far?" Shiina inquired, her head tilting slightly as she looked at the pair. "It looks rather... serious."
"It's nothing, really," Azuma replied, her grip around Tokito's neck seemingly tightening. "Just a bit of friendly wrestling."
Tokito, despite his awkward position, managed to sputter out, "Friendly? You call this friendly? Let me go."
I couldn't help but find the situation amusing. "It seems you two are getting along quite well."
"Something like that. I think Tokito-kun and I are friends now," Azuma giggled, finally releasing Tokito. He stumbled but quickly regained his footing, rubbing his neck with a frown.
"You don't make friends by force," Tokito muttered, still rubbing his neck.
"I don't know about that. Friends are made in the strangest of circumstances," I replied nonchalantly, finally reaching the gathering spot and taking a seat on a fallen log. I could feel the rough bark beneath me as I settled in, the warm sand under my feet. Shiina followed suit, taking a seat beside me, her eyes darting from one face to the next.
"You're not wrong there," said Akito, chiming in with an amused chuckle, to which Tokito only groaned.
"I'm surprised you let Ayanokōji-kun interrupt your reading time, Shiina-san," Nishino said, turning her gaze to Shiina.
Shiina looked at her, a small smile playing on her lips. "Ayanokōji-kun's company is just as engaging, if not more engaging, than a book," she replied.
... What?
Shiina's simple statement seemed to resound like a gong, creating a sudden silence that seemed to hang in the air.
If a pin had dropped at that moment, everyone would have heard it.
"What?" she asked, looking around at the stunned faces, her expression one of surprise. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, not really. But... the two of you aren't dating, right?" Nishino bluntly asked, her eyes narrowing as she boldly shared her theory, not even hesitating.
What a blunt girl.
Shiina blinked in surprise, then let out a soft giggle, her face lighting up with amusement. "No, we aren't," she replied, her gaze flitting over to me and then back to them, a knowing smile on her lips. "Though it seems like you all have been discussing it."
Her statement was met with a couple of coughs and averted gazes. Nishino looked slightly flustered, while Azuma's lips were curved up into a sly smirk.
Horikita, on the other hand, was impassive, observing the situation unfold with an inscrutable gaze.
"Geez... you immediately saw through us! But can't you blame us?" Nishino replied, her voice filled with faux indignation. "First, Ayanokōji-kun visited our class just to take you for lunch. Second, you guys hang out in the library. Third, you are close despite being from other classes. And lastly, you practically admitted you enjoy talking to him as much as you enjoy reading books."
Shiina tilted her head, considering Nishino's words, and then shrugged her shoulders. "That doesn't mean we are romantically involved. We're simply close friends. Friends hang out together and tend to share common interests, don't they?"
Her response did little to quell the intrigue of the others. If anything, it seemed to spark a new round of questions and speculations.
Ignoring the speculative murmurings from the others, I turned my gaze towards the shoreline again.
The tide had ebbed, leaving behind a smooth canvas of sand that gleamed under the midday sun. The rhythmic lap of the waves against the shore had a hypnotic effect, and the salty sea air filled my lungs with each breath.
"Well... I guess it's now clear that Ayanokōji-kun does not care about gossip at all," I heard Azuma mutter.
"The sea is more interesting to him," Kayano added.
Turning my attention back to the group, I spoke, "I would only be adding fuel to the fire if I said anything. But enough about that. It's already close to 11:30, so we should probably go."
Azuma reacted first, her eyes going wide in a comic display of alarm. "Oh wait... it's 11:25 already?! I haven't even taken a bath yet!" Her voice had taken on a high-pitched edge that almost bordered on panic.
She then sniffed her underarms casually as if doing so was the most natural thing in the world. "Well, at least I don't stink... yet."
The bluntness of Azuma's statement sent a ripple of laughter through the group, effectively breaking the tension and putting an end to the line of questioning about Shiina and me. It was always interesting to observe how one offhand remark could change the entire dynamic of a conversation.
Tokito, however, didn't seem to share the general amusement. His face was slightly pale, and he looked like he was about to puke his guts out.
"That... information just made things worse," Tokito muttered, looking as though he wished he was anywhere but here. "I must be losing my sense of smell, then."
"You should at least be happy you got that close to a pretty girl, Tokito-kun," Yajima quipped. "Sweaty armpits or not."
A two-pronged quip that attacked both Azuma and Tokito. Although normally a quiet observer, Yajima certainly made her words count.
Azuma let out a chuckle at the quip, lightly shoving Yajima's shoulder. "Huh, Yajima-san, you sure got a wicked sense of humor. I love it."
"Let's not get sidetracked," Horikita interjected, her eyes darting to me briefly before shifting back to the group. "Ayanokōji-kun is right. It's time for us to go."
Reluctantly, my classmates stood up from their seats on the sandy beach, dusting themselves off. As they began to stretch, I noticed a peculiar expression on Shiina's face, something between curiosity and amusement.
Her eyes met mine, a silent question lingering in her gaze: "Are we really doing this?"
I gave her a small nod before I turned my attention back to my classmates.
"You heard Horikita. But before we leave, we should pay Ryūen one last visit," I said.
Horikita's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing mine as if she knew what exactly I was planning. "Why?" she demanded, her tone laced with suspicion.
"We've taken refuge in his paradise for a couple of hours, after all. It'd be rude otherwise," I replied, allowing a thin smile to sneak onto my face as I turned to the Class D students. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Nishino, Tokito, and Yajima. And as for you, Shiina, it's always wonderful to catch up. We'll see you around."
With brief farewells, our group began to make its way towards Ryūen's haven, leaving the Class D students behind.
As we walked away, I could feel Shiina's gaze on us. And a few moments later, she excused herself from her classmates and caught up with us.
The sudden appearance of Shiina alongside us caught my classmates off guard. There were surprised glances and a few raised eyebrows as they looked from me to her.
"I'm headed the same way as you guys," Shiina explained, smiling at them.
That seemed to satisfy most of my classmates' curiosity— all except Horikita.
Her penetrating gaze was fixed on me, a silent inquisition. She had probably deduced my role in convincing Shiina to accompany us. Not the full story, but enough to make her suspicious.
With her unrelenting gaze trained on me, I seized the opportunity to provoke her further.
"You're not jealous of Shiina, are you, Horikita?" I whispered.
Her retort was swift and frosty, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "Jealous? You're delusional."
"That's not convincing at all, Suzune."
"I don't need to prove anything to you, Ayanokōji-kun."
Her eyes flashed once again, but this time it wasn't just annoyance. There was a hint of something else, something that resembled... discomfort? No, that wasn't it.
With a twinge of amusement, I realized that my joke held a semblance of the truth.
8.1
Ryūen was still lounging in the same beach chair under one of the parasols when we arrived. The only difference between his station from an hour ago to what it currently looked like was the addition of more skewers on his table as well as four more water bottles.
Yamada, as usual, served as his silent enforcer, standing behind Ryūen and still holding a handheld fan.
As we neared, Ryūen cracked one eye open lazily, directing a bored gaze at our approaching party. A smirk as sharp as a wolf's fang adorned his face before motioning us to come closer with a casual flick of his hand.
"I'm surprised to see you all here," he said, his eyes focusing on me. "I would've thought you'd be gone by now."
"You sent Kondo and Nomura to tell us you'd be sharing your luxuries with us. It'd be rude not to indulge ourselves a little," I replied. "And with that, I'd like to ask something from you."
Ryūen's lips twitched into a smirk. "You want to ask something? What is it?"
"Four boxes of drinks, three dozen of assorted fruits, and 80 barbecue skewers. You have that much, right?" I replied, keeping my tone even despite the ridiculous demand. "Don't worry about the container, I made them carry vinyl bags."
I then gestured towards Azuma, Akito, and Kayano, who were showing the vinyl bags I referenced.
Ryūen threw his head back and laughed, a rich, genuine sound that rang clear through the beach. He flicked a casual glance at Yamada, who merely watched the situation impassively, before returning his gaze to me.
"What the fuck are you even talking about? Four boxes of drinks, three dozen of assorted fruits, 80 barbecue skewers? Did you get dropped on your head as a baby?" he scoffed, one hand waving us off dismissively as he popped a skewer into his mouth.
That was an impossible question, considering how 'infantile amnesia' made it impossible for normal people to recall most of their memories starting from the day they were born up until the age of three.
Well... normally, that would be the case.
Because I was able to recall memories going as far as when I was still an infant.
To answer the question: I was not dropped on my head as a baby. In fact, I was treated with delicate care when I first gained consciousness.
But alas, since I was a baby, I soon fell asleep. Who knows? I might have been dropped on my head when I was asleep.
"The hell are you looking at me for?" Ryūen pressed.
Ah... I must have been lost in my thoughts.
"My apologies," I shrugged, looking nonchalant as I held his gaze. "No, I'm pretty sure I did not get dropped on my head as a baby," I replied.
"How about you? I think it'd make a lot of sense if that were the case for you, Ryūen," I continued, a hint of amusement lacing my words. The others snickered at my blatant poke at him.
Ryūen's eyes narrowed for a split second before he barked out a harsh, mocking laughter. "You've got some nerve, I'll give you that. Now, if you're done with your jokes, get the hell out of my camp."
"Well, you've heard the guy. He's not gonna give us anything," I said, turning my head to my classmates and gesturing to leave. It was a move I knew would irritate him. "Guess we should get going."
Just as I expected, losing control of the conversation irked Ryūen slightly. I have to say I was slightly disappointed that he still didn't do his research.
He should have known by now that I had no interest in a battle of egos.
"Wait," Ryūen's voice halted us, his tone carrying a hint of irritation. The amusement in his eyes had been replaced by something sharper. "You think you can waltz into my camp, make absurd demands, insult me, and just walk away?"
I turned back slowly, my expression a mask of indifference. "Well, you told us to leave, didn't you? Or is there something else you want from us?" I asked, the words carefully measured, my tone flat.
Ryūen's eyes flickered, and for a moment, I could see the gears turning in his head. He leaned back in his chair, assessing me, his smirk returning but more controlled. He had taken the bait, and he knew it.
"Think you've got me all figured out, huh?" Ryūen began, his voice carefully neutral, stripped of earlier arrogance. His gaze sharpened, thoughtful. "Last time was a learning experience. I won't underestimate you again."
A warning, huh?
I met his gaze evenly. "Underestimate me? It's not like I did anything to you. It's Suzune here who thwarted your plan to twist the trial," I said, pointing a finger at Horikita, who was standing behind me. "You'd be delusional to think that she would let me dictate how to deal with you."
"If you think I'm the only one in Class B that you should be wary of... then you might be more ignorant than I thought," I continued.
Ryūen's smirk faltered momentarily, replaced by a thoughtful expression. "Ignorant?" he mused, leaning back and regarding me with new interest. "Don't mistake my interest in you for ignorance of the others. I simply want to crush all the big shots in here, you see? You simply happen to hold a high spot in that list."
"Then, shouldn't you go for me last if you think of me that highly? Skipping steps the way you did is exactly why you lost the first time," I quipped.
Ryūen's smirk transformed into a grin, his eyes alight with a challenge. "Didn't you say that was Suzune's work? Then I truly hadn't lost to you, had I? That was a mere setback. Don't get too comfortable."
"And you, Suzune," Ryūen paused, meeting Horikita's unyielding ruby eyes. "Don't blame me for your downfall. Blame this idiot who's insisting on pretending to be blind. I'll be coming for you, too, in due time. Don't expect me to stay the way I was. The game has not even started yet."
Horikita's face remained impassive, her ruby eyes never leaving Ryūen's. She was about to retort until I gently touched her shoulders, giving her a small nod.
"The game hadn't started?" I replied smoothly. "Well... by all means, think what you'd like to think, Ryūen."
His eyes narrowed, and he stood up, skewer in hand. "Is that all you're going to do? Talk? How boring. I did not invite your class here to talk."
Now, that was clearly a lie.
Ryūen had been enjoying these verbal skirmishes and fully intended to show off the luxuries they had spent for a strategy that was sure to be rooted in misdirection.
From what Shiina had told me, doubts were growing on whether or not Ryūen could actually deliver on his promise to elevate their Class to Class A due to them losing a classmate and subsequently losing 300 Class Points as well.
And there was no doubt in my mind that the magenta-haired boy would stop at nothing to extinguish the fire that dissenters like Tokito were trying to ignite.
With that detail, it would be reasonable to assume that Ryūen would pull out all the stops to ensure he would get some semblance of victory for this Special Exam.
Spending all or most of his points may suggest that he wasn't going to put in the effort, but that was exactly what he wanted us to believe.
"I know. You invited us here to share your 'luxuries' with us," I shot back. "Though it seems the only luxury you're offering is a view of your ignorance."
To his credit, Ryūen still held control of his emotions, with the only hint of his agitation being the slightest narrowing of his eyes. The tension was palpable, and the rest of my classmates, as well as the Class D students, had grown quiet, watching the exchange with bated breath.
Ryūen took a deep breath, and his voice was icy when he spoke again. "Your words are as empty as your demands," he said, gesturing at the vinyl bags my classmates held. "You come here asking for food and drinks, thinking it will prove something. What is your point, really?"
I could see my classmates shifting uncomfortably behind me. They, too, were unsure of what I hoped to achieve.
Well, I suppose it was time to stop this farce.
"There is no point, Ryūen," I began, meeting his gaze, "I simply thought it would be funny to see how you'd react."
I kept my focus on Ryūen, watching as his expression shifted from confusion to understanding and then to annoyance. A flicker of something else crossed his eyes, perhaps a hint of respect for my audacity.
A slow smirk crawled onto Ryūen's face. "What a retarded prank," he commented. "You're playing a dangerous game Ayanokōji. You might be a step ahead now, but I won't stop until you're crushed. Looking down on me will be your undoing."
My eyebrows lifted at Ryūen's words. "Looking down on you? I wouldn't dream of it," I replied, my tone flat and devoid of any emotion that might give him the satisfaction of knowing he'd affected me. "However, assuming that you'd be able to beat me by sheer tenacity might be a mistake you'll come to regret."
His eyes hardened at my retort, the smirk on his face fading into a thin, determined line. "Is that a threat?" he growled, the jesting tone completely absent from his voice.
"I don't make threats, Ryūen. I simply state facts." I shrugged, shifting my gaze from him to the food and drinks around us. "But if you wish to interpret my words as such, that's your prerogative."
"I have had enough of your games, Ayanokōji," Ryūen snapped, his anger no longer veiled. "Either state your real purpose here or leave."
I turned back to face him, my expression calm. "Oh, I've stated my purpose," I replied, my eyes meeting his with a firm resolve. "You were just too busy looking for hidden meanings that you missed it. We simply came here for a chat and some food and drinks, as promised."
"And speaking of food and drinks, I haven't gotten my share," I continued before walking towards Ryūen's table and taking an unopened bottle of sparkling water and a barbecue skewer.
I twisted the cap off the bottle and took a sip, feeling the effervescence dance on my tongue. After a few seconds, I turned back to Ryūen, skewer in hand. "I can't see why you seem to have a fascination with this. Sparkling water tastes terrible, Ryūen."
Ryūen's eyes flicked down to the skewer in my hand, then back up to meet my eyes. The ghost of a smile played on his lips. "Different strokes for different folks, Ayanokōji. You're not the first to fail to appreciate finer things."
I took a bite of the skewer, savoring the flavor before speaking. "Maybe so. Or maybe some people are just pretentious."
The atmosphere tensed, and for a moment, I could feel the weight of Ryūen's stare, calculating and probing. The silence was palpable, save for the distant sound of waves.
Then Ryūen laughed, breaking the tension. It was a sharp, sudden sound, devoid of real amusement. "Oh, you're good, Ayanokōji. Very good. But you'll have to do better than that to get under my skin."
"I wasn't trying to get under your skin," I replied, finishing the skewer and casually discarding the stick. "I was just making conversation."
"A conversation you initiated with a ludicrous demand intending to piss me off," Ryūen countered, his eyes narrowing again. "You're playing games, Ayanokōji. I'd advise you not to take me too lightly."
"I never have," I said calmly. "And I won't start now."
Ryūen regarded me for a moment, then nodded. "Good. Then you'll understand when I tell you that your little 'prank' won't work on me. You want to take me down? Come at me directly."
I smiled, a thin, humorless smile. "Direct approaches are rarely the most effective. But don't worry, Ryūen, when the time comes, you won't have any doubts about my intentions."
He returned my smile, his eyes glinting with a challenge. "I look forward to it."
Without another word, I turned and gestured for my classmates to follow. As we walked away, I could feel Ryūen's eyes boring into my back, but I didn't look back.
And as we were just about to leave Ryūen's territory, I glanced back at Shiina, who was still standing a few feet away. She had been rooted in the same spot for minutes now, content with just listening to the barbs Ryūen and I were trading.
"Wait," I said, my voice loud enough to catch everyone's attention, including Ryūen's. "We've forgotten something."
And then, before anyone could react, I stepped back towards Shiina, who looked at me with curious eyes.
"Don't scream."
"Huh?"
In a swift motion, I bent down and hoisted her up onto my shoulders.
"Oi, what the hell are you doing?!" Ryūen demanded. His voice cracked like a whip, his irritation palpable. He hadn't anticipated this.
"Taking Shiina with me. Since you won't let us bring food, I'm taking another luxury," I replied calmly, adjusting Shiina on my shoulders as she laughed.
The other students' reactions varied from shock to amusement. Even my own classmates were shocked at what I had just done.
Meanwhile, Ryūen's face twisted into a deeper frown. "Are you trying to piss me off?"
"Not at all," I shook my head, smiling at the question. "Don't worry too much about me taking her away. You're already at zero points, aren't you? It's not like you'll have points to lose if she misses the roll call," I replied, watching the flicker of surprise and anger cross his face.
A casual admittance that I had seen through his farce— not that it took that much effort to see through it.
Now that I had some information on how he was running things for the exams, it was easy to tell that he had splurged all the 300 points given to us for the exams. The lavish lifestyle, the blatant disregard for the roll calls, and even Ryūen's dismissive demeanor.
But of course, I still hadn't unveiled his full game just yet.
"Wha-" Ryūen attempted to speak. His taunting look already spoke what he wanted to say: What about it?
"We'll also make sure to feed her well," I interrupted him before turning to walk away from his camp, with Shiina giggling at the scene she had helped create.
Ryūen simply watched with narrowed eyes, the smirk wiped off his face. Yamada made to move, but a wave of Ryūen's hand stopped him.
"Oh, Ayanokōji," Ryūen finally said, his voice a dangerous purr. "You really do have a death wish."
"I prefer to call it an adventurous spirit," I countered. "But I can understand how it might come across differently from your perspective."
"Put her down, Ayanokōji," Ryūen demanded, his gaze fixated on Shiina. There was a glint in his eye, a spark of concern that was quickly masked by his usual aloof demeanor.
"Do you want me to put you down, Shiina?" I asked the girl, who was now clinging to my back.
"No, thank you," Shiina replied, her voice cheerful. She turned her attention to Ryūen, a small smile on her face. "It's rather comfortable up here."
"Well, it seems she's fine with the arrangement," I said, shifting my gaze back to Ryūen, my eyes dancing with mirth. "So I think I'll continue."
Ryūen clenched his jaw but remained silent, watching me with an unreadable expression. After a moment, he turned to his group, issuing a few quiet orders before looking back at me. His eyes were colder, more calculating. "You're playing with fire."
"And you're simply watching the embers," I retorted. "Don't blame me if you get burned."
Ryūen's eyes narrowed further at my reply, but he didn't respond. Instead, he stepped back, watching silently as I turned and led my classmates and Shiina away from the beach.
"Quite the spectacle, isn't it?" I spoke once we were a good distance away from their camp.
"That's an understatement, Kiyotaka," Akito replied, sighing. "You were toying with him."
I glanced over to see Horikita's reaction. Her face was unreadable, but her eyes held a mix of confusion and concern.
"Your thoughts, Suzune?" I prompted.
She looked at me, and after a moment of contemplation, finally spoke, her voice steady but with a hint of irritation. "You were reckless. What if Ryūen-kun decided to escalate the situation? It's one thing to play mind games with him, but to put Shiina-san in the middle of it?"
I met her eyes, understanding her concern but unapologetic for my actions. "I knew what I was doing. Ryūen wouldn't have dared to escalate the situation with witnesses present. And besides," I added with a slight tilt of my head toward Shiina, "she seemed to enjoy it."
Horikita's lips thinned into a tight line, and she cast a skeptical glance at Shiina, who met her eyes with a smile, undeterred.
"Don't worry, Horikita-san," Shiina chimed in, her voice confident yet light. "Ayanokōji-kun and I thought this prank through. Ryūen-kun wouldn't risk making a scene over it. He's not foolish." Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she tapped my shoulder with her right hand, a wordless request to be let down.
Responding to her unspoken command, I bent my knees, allowing Shiina to release her hold over me and land gracefully on her feet.
"You heard her," I said, turning back to Horikita, who still regarded me with that narrowed, probing gaze. "We've considered the risks of the prank. It'll be fine."
"That's not the point, Ayanokōji-kun. This isn't a game. Ryūen-kun is dangerous, and your actions today could have consequences."
"I'm aware," I replied, my tone calm. "However, Ryūen wanted a show. And so, I gave him one."
She was silent for a moment, her gaze probing. "Just be careful," she finally said, almost in a whisper. "I don't want to see you caught in a trap."
"I appreciate your concern," I said, my voice softening. "But don't worry, Horikita. That's not going to happen."
Ryūen might be thinking he still stood a chance in this game that he had started, but he had made too many mistakes to regain control of this ensuing struggle between us.
And in time, he would realize this...
That this was my game now.
End of Chapter
A/N: A quick one before Kiyotaka and his group (including Hiyori) go to Class C's camp.
I tend to have this habit of editing some stuff in the chapters that I've published, may it be with the grammar, tenses, or some weird dialogue.
Anyway...
See you in a few days!
Explanations (Brief):
Kiyotaka and Hiyori's 'prank' was for Kiyotaka to rile up Dragon-boy and close out the show by taking Hiyori away from their camp. The full context of their prank will be unveiled in the next chapter. It's nothing too groundbreaking, but it'll add some insights into Shiina Hiyori's character in Liquid Inspiration.
And yes, Suzune is jealous that Hiyori was clinging onto Kiyotaka, even if she knew it was for a prank.