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 9 - Alliances and Contrasts
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
Island Exam Day 2 (12:35 PM)
The sun hung high overhead, casting a warm light over our group as we treaded through the island's lush foliage. The distant chirping of birds and rustling of leaves created a backdrop to our journey.
From a little distance behind me, I picked up on a muted exchange.
"Horikita-san seems... I dunno... rattled, you think?" Azuma whispered to Kayano, her voice trailing off.
Kayano's soft giggle reached my ears. "Kiyotaka could... y'know... carry her too," she teased. I could almost picture her sly grin, even without turning around.
I snuck a glance at Horikita, who was engrossed in her thoughts a few steps ahead of us. She definitely wouldn't be happy if she knew what they were talking about.
"Hey... I don't think she has a... crush on him."
"I wouldn't be too sure... about that. Have you seen... her face earlier?"
"Oh yeah... she did seem uncomfortable when we were talking... about Shiina-san and Ayanokōji-kun."
I quirked an eyebrow. Did they think I couldn't hear them?
"You're aware that I could hear that, right?" I remarked, turning my gaze to meet theirs.
The two of them looked at me in confusion, as if the notion of me being able to hear them was impossible.
Azuma blinked, looking genuinely baffled. "How? We were barely audible and quite far from you."
Kayano, smirking now, challenged, "If you caught our conversation, why not enlighten everyone?"
Shifting my attention to Shiina, I inquired, "Did you catch their chat?"
She paused for a beat, her head tilting in thought, before shaking it. "No, I missed it. Your ears are quite impressive, Ayanokōji-kun."
... I see. I severely underestimated my hearing skills.
Turning my attention to Azuma and Kayano, I shook my head and said, "Share what I heard? I'd rather not get you girls in trouble."
I noticed Horikita's ear twitch slightly, indicating she might have picked up on my remark. "Ayanokōji-kun," she began, her voice laced with a note of exasperation, "What did they say?"
Before I could even formulate a response, Shiina jumped in, her tone playful, "Oh, it was probably just some harmless gossip. Don't worry about it, Horikita-san."
Horikita, now visibly irritated, fixed her eyes on Azuma and Kayano. "If you have something to say about me, I'd prefer it if you said it directly."
What a weird day. Shiina somehow made things worse.
Azuma let out a small chuckle, her eyes meeting Horikita's fierce gaze. "It was nothing, Horikita-san. As Shiina-san said, don't worry about it."
Horikita narrowed her eyes, looking like she was fighting an internal battle. "If it's 'nothing,' then why whisper behind my back?"
Seeing the conversation might lead to unnecessary tension, I interjected, "Relax, Horikita. If they have something to say to you, they will approach you about it. Don't think too much about it."
To my left, I noticed Akito letting out a chuckle as he glanced in my direction. Glad to know my situation was to your amusement, Akito.
Horikita pursed her lips, considering my words. "Ayanokōji-kun, you sure have a talent for being both evasive and logical. I can't say I like it," she said, her voice cooler but still edged with a hint of frustration.
Kayano, eager to defuse the situation, stepped forward, her demeanor open. "Look, Horikita-san. It wasn't anything mean-spirited. We were just discussing your... umm, dynamic with Ayanokōji-kun."
Azuma nudged Kayano, whispering, "Was that your idea of smoothing things over?"
Kayano gave her a look, silently asking her to remain silent.
Horikita's eyes darted between me and the two girls. "Dynamic?" she echoed, a hint of red touching her cheeks.
I'd rather not drag out this conversation. And with that...
"They're beating around the bush. They were wondering whether or not you have a crush on me," I said bluntly. "And... if you were somehow jealous of Shiina."
I left out the part where they talked about me carrying her. Horikita might actually blow a fuse if she knew. Some details are best left unsaid.
Shiina laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, it's all in the open now. Saves us the trouble of tiptoeing around the subject."
Horikita's face flushed a deeper shade of red, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Wha- That's preposterous! I would never get... jealous of Shiina-san just because the two of you became friends. Utterly ridiculous!"
That was extremely defensive of her. It was definitely not helping her case. And wait... did Horikita just ignore the first part of what I said?
Akito, unable to hide his amusement, remarked with a teasing tone, "Sounds like someone is protesting a bit too much."
The magenta-haired boy was immediately silenced by Horikita's sharp glare.
Kayano, who initially seemed to enjoy the entire spectacle, now seemed a tad regretful. "Horikita-san, I sincerely apologize. It was an idle chat, and we shouldn't have speculated about personal matters."
Azuma nodded in agreement, adding, "Yes, it was just a thoughtless conversation. We're sorry."
Horikita took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. Her cold demeanor returned, and she fixed her gaze on the two girls. "Very well, but let this be a lesson. If you have issues or observations, share them upfront. Speculating behind someone's back creates unnecessary misunderstandings."
"And Ayanokōji-kun," she said, turning to me with a narrowed gaze, "Thank you for your honesty, but a bit of tact wouldn't hurt."
I doubt there was a better way of saying it, Horikita... at least, to someone like you.
"I figured it was better to address it head-on rather than let this conversation drag out," I replied, unfazed. "Now that we got that out of the way, let's go."
Horikita seemed to contemplate my words for a moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fair enough. Let's not waste any more time on this."
With that, our now party of six continued on our trek towards Class C's base.
9.1
We delved deeper into the forest, following the path that led us past the base of a colossal, fractured tree - just as Ryūji had directed. Now that I thought about it, the tree looked as though the school had intentionally broken it, most likely to serve as a landmark. With what we now knew, it hinted that there was a spot just further ahead.
As we continued our trek into the dense forest, a distinct change caught my attention: numerous students' footprints were clearly visible along the path. These tracks, seemingly leading in one direction, hinted that if we followed them, they would guide us straight to Class C's campsite. Perhaps this was the reason Ryūji didn't feel the need to provide a detailed explanation.
Azuma swatted at her arms, her expression one of mild annoyance. "These mosquitoes are relentless," she remarked.
Of all the challenges we had faced on this island so far, these persistent, blood-thirsty mosquitoes targeting our limbs were definitely the most irritating.
"Kiyotaka," Kayano began, her tone curious, "why did you ask us to bring the vinyl bags along? Since we really didn't get anything from Class D, I don't seem to understand the point of carrying them."
"We kinda look silly carrying them around, to be honest," Akito added.
"I saw a food source yesterday. Figured we might as well pick them up before we return to base," I replied. "I'm confident it's still there."
Azuma raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't we have prioritized that then?"
Her question did hold some merit. But I was fairly certain no one had spotted it yet. Besides, even if another class got to it, it wasn't like we were going to be short on food.
"That's a fair point," I acknowledged, giving Azuma a nod. "However, our primary objective is to check on how the other classes are doing. And besides, the food source I've identified is a bit camouflaged. I doubt anyone got to it just yet."
We pressed on, the soft hum of the forest encompassing us. After a few minutes, we heard faint laughter and conversation echoing through the trees.
We've finally arrived at Class C's base camp.
"Just as what you'd expect from the former Class B..." Horikita muttered as we closed into Class C's main base.
"They definitely knew what they were doing... unlike Class D. No offense meant, Shiina," Akito remarked, casting a quick, apologetic look in Shiina's direction.
"None taken, Miyake-kun," Shiina replied, offering the boy a small smile. "Class C definitely looks like a well-oiled machine."
I guess that was exactly how it'd look from an outside perspective- that Ryūen was throwing away his Class' chances to succeed in this exam.
"Yeah! It's amazing how they're able to make the most out of their space..." Azuma mused.
"They didn't land in one of the higher classes by chance," I interjected, my gaze scanning their well-structured base.
The spot they had chosen was utilized to its fullest potential. Encircled by trees that guarded a central well, it was clear they didn't have enough space to spread out three or four tents like our class. Instead, they'd ingeniously chosen to set up hammocks between the trees.
To put it simply, their camp layout was both practical and efficient.
Just as with Class D, observing Class C's base further emphasized what Mashima-sensei said yesterday- that we were free to approach this exam how we pleased. There wasn't a singular, surefire way of guaranteeing victory.
That being said, I found myself curious about the unfamiliar equipment near the well. It was some kind of large apparatus that I was unfamiliar with. But more than that, the atmosphere in their camp stood out.
There was an evident camaraderie- lively chatter, synchronized tasks, and shared laughter. It spoke volumes of Ichinose's leadership and her ability to galvanize her classmates.
"Huh? Ayanokōji-kun, his classmates... and a Class D student?"
Ichinose's familiar voice made its way to us, seemingly confused at the odd composition of our group. She was wearing the school PE uniform sans the jacket. Currently, Ichinose was trying to tie a string around a tree to put up a hammock.
Ryūji sat a little further away from her. Upon our eyes meeting, he gave me a curt nod.
We saw Ichinose approach one of her classmates, whispering some instructions to her. After that, the pink-haired girl approached us, a bright smile etched on her face.
"Sorry for not noticing you guys earlier. Got a bit tied up," she admitted, chuckling at her own pun.
"Ah, don't worry about it. In fact, I should apologize for suddenly barging into your camp," I replied.
She waved off my apology. "What are you apologizing for, silly? I invited your class here, didn't I?"
Then, turning to my classmates and Shiina, she added, "Hi! I'm Ichinose Honami. Nice to meet you guys."
After sharing some pleasantries, Ichinose finally led us into their camp.
"Your class is functioning extremely well, Ichinose-san," Horikita commented as she glanced at two Class C students, who seemed to be preparing their lunch.
Ichinose laughed, her eyes twinkling with pride. "Thank you. The beginning was a bit rough, but experimenting with various strategies eventually paid off." She gestured towards some classmates shuffling vinyl bags. "But, as you can see, there's no end to the chores. We have much to do."
"It comes with the territory. But the work is going to be worth it in the end. I'm sure of it," I replied.
"Thanks, Ayanokōji-kun. Speaking of which, Kanzaki-kun mentioned that Class B's camp is quite impressive," Ichinose commented, trying to steer the conversation.
"We might've splurged a bit on points," I confessed, "But I thought it'd be a nice change for our class to enjoy this 'vacation,' unconventional as it may be."
Ichinose hummed in agreement. "Fun is important, after all. But I'm surprised your class agreed to use so many points. This exam should be a good opportunity for Class B to try and defeat Class A, you know?"
While her tone remained light, I sensed the probing nature of her question. It wasn't anything malicious, but Ichinose was a class leader for a reason.
"That's true. But like Mashima-sensei said, we're free to approach this exam however we like. It just so happened we decided that enjoying this island is how we wanted to approach things," I replied. "So long as we end up with around a hundred points, it's already something I'd consider a success."
It wasn't the full truth, but it should be enough to sate Ichinose's curiosity.
Ryūji, having approached silently, chimed in, "Sounds like a more realistic version of Class D's plan. At least you're thinking about the points you'll have left."
It seemed like he was eavesdropping all this time.
"You sound a little agitated, Ryūji. Did Ryūen's antics get to you?" I teased.
He shot me a disapproving look. "Not particularly. I just voiced my opinion about his questionable tactics. But talking to him is like talking to a wall. It's a waste of time."
Spotting an opportunity, I nudged Horikita, "Looks like you've found a kindred spirit, Horikita."
She rewarded me with a signature frosty glare. Predictable.
"Your teasing aside, why are you bringing along a Class D student? Did you kidnap her, Kiyotaka?" Ryūji asked, turning his attention to Shiina.
The girl in question giggled. "Something like that. Ayanokōji-kun took me away from our camp," she replied.
I shot her a look. "Please don't give people the wrong idea, Shiina. I didn't kidnap you."
"You kind of did," Azuma retorted.
"Carried her on our way out of their camp too," Akito added. "Although, that would probably make her the happiest kidnapping victim I ever knew..."
You guys certainly weren't helping. I'd prefer it if I could avoid unsavory rumors, thank you very much.
"I could have done without the theatrics," Horikita said, glaring at me.
Ichinose, who was just listening in to the conversation, had a rather conflicted look on her face. However, she quickly masked it with a bright expression. I wonder what was up with that.
"Ayanokōji-kun, you guys came here to ask me something, right?" Ichinose asked, effectively changing the topic.
I mentally thanked her for bailing me out.
"That's right. Scouting your base is just a secondary objective. I'm wondering if your class is interested in entering into a cooperative relationship with our class for this exam," I replied.
Ichinose's eyes brightened at the proposal. "Oh, that would be a great idea! We could trade information between our classes. Come on, follow me."
Taking the lead, Ichinose led us to the forest, a few meters out of their camp.
"So, how was your experience in Class D's camp?" Ichinose asked.
"We enjoyed it. Since they offered to share their resources, I thought it'd be a waste not to take them up on their offer. The skewer was great. Ryūen himself gave them to me," I replied.
"More like you swiped it right off his table," Akito added, a twinkle in his eye.
Ichinose laughed lightly. "Did you now? Ayanokōji-kun, it's rude to steal other people's food, you know?" she remarked, a playful admonishment in her tone.
Ryūji smirked. "I expect nothing less from you, Kiyotaka."
It seemed like he was happy someone made a fool of Ryūen in his stead.
"I wasn't able to get any skewers earlier. Since he wasn't eating the ones on his table, I figured it was fair game," I reasoned.
I could have probably just asked from the guys grilling the barbecue, but it was funnier to just flat-out steal from Ryūen.
As we wandered further, an isolated hammock caught my eye. It hung gracefully between two trees, just on the camp's periphery.
"This place is out of the camp. Why are there a couple of hammocks set up?" I asked.
"Beppu-kun and Shibata-kun chose this location. They mentioned something about guarding against potential intruders," Ichinose explained.
Observing the area, it was indeed strategic. The location was comfortable, with the shade of the trees, and also provided a good vantage point.
"Do you want to sit?" Ichinose offered, gesturing towards the hammock.
"I'm fine."
"Alright then."
After I declined, Ichinose decided to sit on Beppu's hammock herself.
"It's a nice fit for one person," I commented.
Ichinose scooted a bit, patting the small space beside her with a teasing glint in her eyes. "Two, if you squeeze in a little."
Was she... trying to embarrass me somehow?
"If you insist," I replied, moving to the hammock and sitting next to her.
While it was possible it was just Ichinose's airheadedness at work, I decided that biting the bullet was the best course of action.
"E...eh?"
"You offered, didn't you?" I countered, facing the slightly flustered Ichinose.
The hammock swayed a little as we adjusted ourselves. Being close, I could feel the warmth radiating from Ichinose's body. The chirping of the birds and the distant sounds of Class C students working in the camp seemed distant now. There was an oddly peaceful silence between us.
"I didn't expect you to be so shameless, Ayanokōji-kun," Horikita remarked, breaking the silence.
I almost forgot there were other people with us.
"He's always had a penchant for mischief," Shiina added, smiling. "Didn't expect he'll actually do it with other people around him, though."
Wait... why am I being treated like a criminal here?
"You don't mind, do you, Ichinose?" I asked.
Ichinose's face flushed a shade deeper, her normally confident demeanor faltering a bit. "Well, I did invite you, so I can't really say I mind. It's just..." She trailed off, her gaze dropping to her hands that fiddled nervously on her lap.
"I didn't anticipate that you'd accept," she finally admitted. "But it's not that bad, sharing a hammock with someone, especially when the island's view is so beautiful."
"Beautiful? Are you flirting with me? How bold of you, Ichinose," I teased her.
That was what you get for trying to get me flustered.
Her face reddened even more, and she nudged me playfully with her elbow. "I think it's the other way around! You're the bold one for actually sitting here. What would Yuki-chan think?"
"She'd find it funny," I replied. "You know this yourself."
Ichinose chuckled. "You're right. Well, it's not like we're doing anything wrong."
Horikita audibly cleared her throat from where she stood. "Shouldn't we focus on the matter at hand?" She paused, glancing briefly at Ichinose and me, "About the proposed cooperation between our classes?"
Ichinose looked between Horikita and me, seeming to catch onto the subtle tension. "Right," she replied. "Let's start our discussion. I apologize for getting sidetracked!"
"We could start with our purchases thus far. If either party bought something that the other hadn't purchased, it'd be useful to know what they do," Ryūji recommended.
Ichinose, with a grin, took out a manual from her pocket. She showed us a white sheet of paper, which itemized what they'd purchased, and read aloud.
"Hammocks. Cookware. A small tent, lantern, and temporary toilet. Fishing rod, a water shower. If we combine those items with the food we purchased, the total comes to exactly seventy points."
"You guys bought a water shower? I've been curious about that one. What does it do?" Azuma asked.
"Actually, I can show and explain it to you, alongside some of the other things we've done in our camp. Assuming one of you could also explain how things worked over in Class B's camp, we could trade notes," Ryūji suggested.
"Why? Wouldn't it be better if we could just talk it over here?" Kayano asked, curious about why Ryūji was suggesting that we split.
"It'd be more efficient if Ichinose and Kiyotaka could talk more in-depth about our alliance. I'm assuming they'll also be talking about the other classes," he replied.
There was an unsaid implication in Ryūji's words. He wanted to give Ichinose and me some privacy for some odd reason I couldn't decipher. This wasn't how he usually operated, after all.
Horikita cast a quick look my way, her expression inscrutable. But I noticed the briefest moment of hesitation before she said, "Very well, let's split into groups. We'll discuss the other details, and Ayanokōji-kun can finalize the alliance."
Ryūji smiled, giving me a nod as he led the others away. "Let's head over to the water shower," he said to Shiina, Akito, Kayano, Azuma, and Horikita. "It's one of the most interesting purchases we've made."
As the splintered group dispersed, I noticed Horikita give one last glance at Ichinose and me before walking away.
"I didn't expect Kanzaki-kun to be... assertive," Ichinose commented, looking at the departing forms of Ryūji, Shiina, and my classmates. "But he does have a point. We could talk about other things while he'll be out discussing our expenditures with your classmates."
It seemed Ichinose also had no clue about Ryūji's sudden assertiveness. Well, it wasn't like it was a big deal.
"I've heard you guys visited Class D's camp yesterday. What do you think of Ryūen's strategy?" I asked, steering the conversation forward.
Ichinose's eyes turned sharp and thoughtful, her playful demeanor retreating for the moment. "It's puzzling. I can't help but echo Kanzaki-kun's sentiments. They seemingly have no intention of taking this test seriously. With just five days left, they're on a path to deplete their points," she said, the weight of her concern evident.
"Actually, I'm pretty sure they already ran out of points," I revealed.
Ichinose's eyes widened slightly. "How could you tell? Sure, they've spent a lot, but they should have at least some points left, right?"
"Consider this," I began, leaning slightly forward for emphasis. "Ryūen dispatched two of his members to our camp. Given the timing, it's probable they missed the roll call, costing them ten points. Now, while this alone doesn't mean much, couple it with Ryūen's behavior and it's telling. He isn't just being reckless; he's acting like someone with nothing left to lose."
"And remember Shiina? When I took her from their camp, I called out Ryūen on the fact that they now have zero points. Although he didn't outright say it, his face gave it away," I continued.
He wasn't shocked nor angered by my inference. In fact, he had a taunting look on his face that seemingly said: What about it?
His blatant disregard for his class' state was quite vexing, to be honest.
"All of their points... well, that does make sense," Ichinose muttered, wincing.
It seemed like a realization struck Ichinose, though she didn't expound on it.
Pursing her lips, she asked, "What do you think is their next move, then?"
"Well, one of our classmates, Kōenji, retired on his own."
Ichinose's brow furrowed in concern. "Is he okay? And wouldn't his retirement penalize your class?"
I noted the gears whirring in her mind, connecting the dots. While on the surface, my revelation was unrelated to our topic, Ichinose was more than smart enough to infer that there was more to it than what I shared.
"Yeah, he didn't even tell us. According to Chabashira-sensei, Kōenji stated that he felt unwell. But he definitely was well enough to enjoy dinner with us. The guy just ate his share of the barbecue and dipped."
I let out a sigh. Kōenji staying for that long was actually a monumental achievement, considering he was already intending to retire immediately after exploring the forest with me. But of course, it wasn't exactly an acceptable behavior.
"What a hedonistic guy... and you're saying he actually was allowed to retire?"
"He was. Even though he was just faking being unwell, he was allowed to retire."
"So you think Ryūen-kun will do the same as your classmate, right? Him and the rest of his class."
Ichinose's expression revealed no surprise, suggesting she'd reached that conclusion even before I could confirm it.
"Exactly. The way I see it, they won't last the week if they don't retire. It's still weird, though, how Class D would play the exam like this when they're far behind the other classes," I replied.
Class D was trailing Ichinose's Class C by about 400 points now, and the gap was even wider with the higher classes. It was honestly perplexing why Ryūen would go for this strategy.
"It's kind of like how Class B is relaxing when this exam presents you the opportunity to become Class A, don't you think?" Ichinose asked, a small smile appearing on her face.
"Where are you getting at?"
She giggled. "That you probably have something on your sleeves, Ayanokōji-kun. I've worked with you and Yuki-chan for the better part of three months now. I could guess how you guys operate," she said. "Although, guessing what you'll be doing is a different story altogether."
So Ichinose also thought it was a possibility for Class D's zero-point strategy to be a smokescreen.
"You don't have to worry about it. I was genuine in proposing an alliance with Class C for this exam," I replied, meeting her blue eyes with my own.
"Well, avoiding the wrath of the higher classes is one of our goals for this exam, that's for sure. We're simply trying to get as many points as we can without risking too much," Ichinose confided.
A rather defensive and neutral strategy. That seemed very in character for Ichinose.
"Kanzaki-kun is also pretty adamant about 'picking our battles.' He's quite informed about you, Ayanokōji-kun. I could tell he looks up to you," she continued.
Although I wasn't as close with Ryūji as I was with Eiichiro or Kōenji, I suppose he knew just enough about me for him to be able to accurately evaluate me to some degree.
"I'm not as impressive as he's trying to sell. I think Ryūji is just putting me on a pedestal," I said in an attempt to deflect the praise.
Ichinose giggled. "Being humble really doesn't suit you at all," she remarked.
Now, that was just mean.
"Pardon me, Ichinose-san? I'm sorry to interrupt. Do you know where Nakanishi-kun is?" asked a male student in a rather reserved voice.
Ichinose and I heard his footsteps, but we didn't really see him until he reached our location.
Class D's Kaneda Satoru.
Ichinose's reaction earlier made more sense now. But admittedly, the bigger picture was still quite blurred to me.
"Ah, Kaneda-kun! I think Nakanishi-kun headed down to the northern shore. Why do you ask?"
"I thought I'd offer help. Is that unnecessary?"
"Oh no, not at all. I'm really happy that you feel that way. Can you head over and follow Chihiro-chan's group, then? If you tell them I told you to do so, it'll be okay."
"Okay, thank you very much."
And with that, Kaneda headed off in another direction.
"Hmm..."
"Are you curious? That's actually Kaneda-kun, from Class D. I haven't asked him about his initial situation yet, but apparently, he'd been in some kind of dispute with Ryūen-kun. When we found him wandering around the forest, he said he'd get by on his own, but I couldn't just leave him," Ichinose explained.
Kaneda Satoru, the same boy who was basically the extension of Ryūen's will during the trial last month.
It was rather interesting to see things turn so drastically...
"He'd get violent even to his allies, huh?" I mused, remembering the small bruise I had spotted on Kaneda.
Ichinose's eyes hardened as if strengthening her resolve to protect her classmates. "I don't understand it, really. To hurt your own classmates... people who should be your greatest allies..."
"Well, Kaneda could just retire if he feels like it," I off-handedly pointed out. "It's not like there's any incentive for him to be staying on the island."
Ichinose sighed, her gaze following Kaneda's receding figure into the distance. "Kaneda-kun's situation is rather unfortunate. And while you do have a point, he probably feels like he needs to do something to give back to us rather than just leave. Sometimes, our pride dictates our actions. I couldn't blame him for it."
"That's true. Well, on the bright side, you've got someone who's willing to help out with the chores," I replied.
Ichinose chuckled softly. "That's a rather twisted way of thinking, Ayanokōji-kun."
I shrugged, not finding anything odd with what I had said.
"By the way, Ayanokōji-kun, I don't think I've asked. Why did you take Shiina-san away from their camp?" Ichinose asked, shifting the topic.
"A prank against Ryūen. Shiina was a little upset Ryūen wasn't listening to her suggestions, and I wanted to catch him off-guard. So that was what we came up with," I replied.
"Did you really have to piggyback her, though? Somehow, I couldn't visualize that scene in my head," Ichinose remarked, shaking her head in amusement.
I arched an eyebrow at her comment. "Why? Are you perhaps jealous, Ichinose?"
Ichinose's cheeks flushed a shade of pink. She looked slightly taken aback but tried to play it cool. "W-What are you talking about, Ayanokōji-kun? I just thought it was rather... unexpected of you."
"I've given Yuki a piggyback ride to the cafeteria before. It's not exactly out of character for me," I quipped, leaning slightly on the edge of the hammock.
"Eh, really? You actually went along with that? That's... actually pretty cute," she replied.
Ichinose had this cute thinking expression on her face. I couldn't resist but tease her.
"You think so? Well, maybe someday, if you ask nicely, I might consider giving you a piggyback ride too."
Ichinose's eyes widened, clearly caught off guard by my proposition. Her face turned an even deeper shade of pink, and she looked away momentarily as if trying to hide her embarrassment.
"D-Don't say such things out of the blue, Ayanokōji-kun. I might just take you up on that offer, you know?" She teased back, leaning closer and poking my chest.
But as she did, Ichinose temporarily lost her balance, her forehead almost colliding with mine. Our faces were so close that I could probably feel her breath.
"This hammock definitely isn't fit for two people," I remarked.
Ichinose's voice came out a little shaky, her eyes still locked onto mine, "Y-Yeah, seems so."
She tried to push herself away, but the hammock had other ideas and responded with a wobble. I instinctively reached out to steady her, our fingers brushing against each other.
There was a pregnant pause, both of us acutely aware of the sudden closeness between us. The world outside the hammock seemed to blur, and for a fleeting moment, it was as if time had come to a halt.
Ichinose cleared her throat, breaking the spell. "Ahem. Sorry about that. I didn't mean to invade your personal space like that," she muttered.
She moved back a little, but her hand still lingered near mine. "Thanks for catching me, though. It seems I always find myself in these awkward situations around you."
"That does seem to be the case... but it only started after that time we hung out in your dorm," I replied.
That time last month when it seemed like Ichinose was about to kiss me...
I didn't think much of it at first, but things were actually getting awkward between us, especially when it was just the two of us. Somehow, it felt like Ichinose was trying to place some distance between us.
However, she wouldn't admit to it.
Ichinose chuckled weakly. "You're just looking too much into it, Ayanokōji-kun. I'm just always confused about what to do when it's the two of us because you'd either flirt with me without warning... or tease me. It's not like I'm making things awkward for us..."
"Well, anyways, Kanzaki-kun should have already finished discussing things with your classmates. Should we head back now?" She suggested.
It was clear she didn't want to talk about it for now.
"Alright, then."
Feeling the shift in the mood, I made to rise from the hammock, but as I did, the hammock's balance was further disturbed, causing it to tilt precariously. Ichinose yelped in surprise, grabbing onto my arm for support.
Without thinking, I pulled her to me, ensuring that both of us didn't end up in an even more embarrassing heap on the ground. The hammock swayed wildly for a few moments, and when it finally stilled, we found ourselves standing close to each other, her hand still clutched around my arm.
"I think it's clear we should avoid hammocks in the future," I remarked dryly, looking down at her. "At least the small ones..."
Ichinose laughed, a genuine laugh full of amusement. "Definitely," she agreed, releasing my arm and taking a step back. "Thank you for the save, Ayanokōji-kun."
With that, the two of us made our way back to Class C's base.
9.2
As Ichinose and I approached the camp, I could hear the cheerful chattering of my classmates. They were engrossed in a feast of fruits, likely a friendly offering from Class C, and from the looks of it, the meeting had ended on a positive note.
"Oh look, Ichinose and Ayanokōji are back!" Shibata announced, spotting us first and beckoning us over with a wide grin. Ichinose returned his enthusiasm with a hearty wave.
I acknowledged Shibata with a nod before turning my gaze to my classmates. "So, how did it go?" I asked.
"It's as productive as you'd think," Horikita replied. "Class C had definitely given us some things to consider."
"It's not just you guys who got something out of the exchange, you know? We've also learned a lot from Class B. What you've shared with us will be very helpful."
The one who said this was Tsube Hitomi. We weren't exactly acquainted, per se, but from what I've got from Ichinose, she was an exceptionally capable student with great physical and academic abilities.
"I see. It's good to know both of our classes got something out of this arrangement," I said, nodding my head in approval.
"Seems like our alliance is off to a good start," Ichinose said, nudging me with her elbow.
"So it would seem."
"Ayanokōji-kun, would you like one?" Shiina asked, offering me one of the bananas in her hands.
I paused for a second, glancing at the banana Shiina was offering. "Hmm... sure. Thank you, Shiina," I responded, accepting it and peeling back the skin.
As I took a bite of the banana, I noted Horikita's subtle eye movement. She glanced momentarily at the banana in Shiina's hand and then at the one I was eating, a fleeting shadow crossing her face before she looked away.
Her budding jealousy towards Shiina was pretty amusing.
"I wonder what other fruits and vegetables the school had planted on this island," I mused as I finished eating the banana.
The taste was unlike the typical store-bought bananas I had tasted. The sweetness was rich yet delicate, the texture almost creamy. This sensation wasn't simply due to freshness; it was indicative of exceptional cultivation.
Well, I wasn't exactly an expert on the subject, but I could tell that much.
Eventually, the conversations around me started to wind down, I sensed it was time to depart.
Turning my gaze to Ichinose, I said, "Thanks a lot for welcoming us to your camp, Ichinose. I hope we haven't taken much of your time. We'll be going now."
Ichinose offered me a gracious smile. "Oh, you guys weren't a bother at all! Feel free to come by if you guys need anything, okay?"
Ryūji stood up from his seat and offered me a fist bump. "I'll be seeing you around, Kiyotaka."
"Bye, guys! As Ichinose-san said, feel free to come by any time," Tsube added, waving her arms enthusiastically.
More Class C students came to say their goodbyes, and after a minute or two, our party of six finally headed out of their camp.
"It was certainly a different vibe from Class D," Azuma pointed out, reflecting on the meeting we just had with Class C.
"While Class D was more or less enjoying all the luxuries, Class C really is working under one banner. There's a strong sense of unity there," Kayano added.
Turning my head to Shiina, I asked, "Were you able to see Kaneda earlier?"
Shiina nodded. "I did. I'm glad he's doing well for himself, despite what happened."
"Wait, what happened to that Kaneda guy? Kanzaki said he was from Class D but he didn't really say anything else," Akito asked.
"He got into an argument with Ryūen-kun, which turned violent, as you could see from his bruise. It kind of made anyone who agreed with Kaneda-kun to hold their tongues," Shiina spoke in a regretful voice.
True to her nature, Ryūen's violent disposition saddened her.
"So he was against spending all your points, I take it?" Horikita asked.
"Indeed. He had presented another plan, but just like my suggestion, it fell on deaf ears," Shiina replied.
"Ryūen's carelessness will be his undoing one of these days," Horikita sighed. "At least that's one less problem to deal with."
Even though Shiina was a Class D student, she felt so unassuming that Horikita probably thought there was no harm in airing her candid thoughts.
"She's very open with her thoughts, isn't she?" Shiina whispered to me, giggling slightly.
"That's Horikita for you," I replied.
Horikita suddenly turned her head towards us. I thought she might have overheard us, but it seemed like it wasn't the case.
"We've got a lot of substantial information from Class C. Would you like to hear them while we walk?" Horikita asked.
"Alright. That does seem to be a good idea."
"Where are we headed, by the way? This probably isn't the way to our base..." Kayano asked.
"You'd be right. Remember the food source I was talking about earlier? That's where we're headed," I replied.
While I did say earlier that it was unlikely for the other classes to have found the cornfields, it was simply a matter of time before they would find it. Now that our reconnaissance missions were done, it was time to harvest the cornfields for ourselves.
"What's this food source, by the way?" Azuma asked.
"Corn. A lot of corn. That was why I made you guys carry that many vinyl bags," I replied.
My classmates' eyes shined in realization after I revealed the entirety of my plan to them.
We continued walking, and as we did, Horikita narrated everything they had discussed with Ryūji and the others from Class C.
The water shower they bought seemed to fit our needs because, like Class C, we had enough natural water in our base to make the most out of it. I was a bit happy with this news. After all, that meant we found a better alternative to the 20-point temporary showers.
They also found an area with good vegetation where both fruits and vegetables grew in numbers and used the nearby beach to catch fish. The bunch of vinyl bags they procured also had a purpose. It was similar to ours, where we essentially stacked them together to form a makeshift mat under the tents.
"Their base felt cooler for some reason, too," Horikita continued with her narration. "When I asked them about it, Tsube-san hypothesized that it might be due to them sprinkling water around their base."
That was a rather interesting detail.
What Class C did was a technique often used in traditional Japanese houses. By sprinkling water, you can lower the ambient temperature and keep dust down. To extend, the evaporating water helped in cooling the immediate surroundings.
It was a simple yet effective way to combat the heat, especially if you had a reliable source of water nearby.
"I see. We could probably employ a similar tactic to our base. It'd be better if we could combat the heat, even by a bit," I said.
With our base located along the river, we have more than enough water to recreate what Class C had done.
"And for the showers, it would seem like buying the Water Shower would be for the best, considering we have plenty of water source. We'd save five points compared to the Temporary Shower," I continued.
"That was what I thought of as well," Horikita replied, nodding her head in agreement.
Our conversation lulled as we approached a dense thicket of tall grass. Beyond this unassuming veil lay the cornfields that Kōenji and I had previously discovered.
Akito squinted, trying to discern what lay ahead. "Are we there yet? All I see is grass."
"Well, it would be very hard for anyone to notice what's out of place at first glance," I replied.
Horikita glanced at me, a look of realization on her face. She must have recalled our conversation from the night before. I simply smiled and gestured for everyone to follow closely.
Pushing past the tall grass, we emerged into a vast expanse of green and gold. Rows of cornstalks stood tall, their golden crowns swaying gently in the breeze.
"Woah, look at this! Ayanokōji-kun was right!"
"It's corn!"
Just as I had expected, no one had discovered the cornfields just yet. But of course, the activities of the other classes had something to do with that. From what Yuki reported, Class A was busy occupying the spots on the western side of the island. And having just come out of Class C's base, I could tell they'd be hard-pressed to even come here. The obstacle would be too much.
"Akito, Kayano, can you count how many ears of corn are around?"
The two of them moved wordlessly towards the cornfields, off to count how many of them we could harvest.
"At first glance, the entire cornfield might be able to sustain your class for two days, at most," Shiina observed.
"Depends on how we'll be using the corn, but that sounds about right," I replied, nodding my head at her assessment.
Akito and Kayano returned about a minute later, with the latter sporting a pleased grin on her face.
"There's about 54 ears of corn, Kiyotaka. I think we've got enough bags for all of them!" She excitedly said.
"Good. Let's get moving then."
And so, we harvested the corn with great vigor. Even Shiina tried to help out, reasoning out that it'd be fun.
It didn't take long until we were able to harvest all of the corn. The vinyl bags we carried were now filled with corn.
"We definitely lucked out here," Azuma said, glancing at the now-empty cornfields. "That should help with our food reserves."
"Well, shall we get back to base?"
Upon everyone's agreement, we began our trip back to our base.
As Shiina had pointed out, this harvest would be good enough to last us for a couple of days. When you add with that the other resources that our classmates would be able to forage, we were bound to have an even more comfortable time on the island.
But whether or not that would last remains to be seen.
End of Chapter
A/N: Hiyori's still tagging along because, of course, she does.
Clarification:
While Hiyori is willingly tagging along with Kiyotaka, that doesn't mean she'd be open to betraying her class. As most of you have noticed, she was painting a picture that was still in line with what Ryuuen wanted others to perceive. She was simply upset that he wasn't listening to her and wanted to get back at him, even if via a petty prank.
And yes, Suzune is incredibly jelly. But she'd rather die than admit she was jealous. Honami, on the other hand, isn't jelly, but she's conflicted about how to feel about Kiyotaka's closeness to Hiyori, as well as how she feels for Kiyotaka.
Also, Kiyotaka didn't bother to go to Class A here because that's Yuki and Chiaki's job. They're dividing tasks, as was told in the last chapter of Vol 2.
See you next week, or maybe next month, or next year.