FYI;
[Speech]
(Thoughts)
Narration/Other Types of Communication
『Title/Importance』
"Quoting"
"'Flashbacks'"
Author's Note/(Author's Note)/RBD
AN: Author's Note
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Fair Warning: There Will Be Classroom Of The Elite Year 3 Volume 1 Spoilers
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Ayanokoji Kiyotaka walked through the hall of Advanced Nurturing High School. He was heading towards the cafeteria when he noticed a presence behind him.
???: (There he is.)
The man had a smirk on his face as he wrapped his arm around Kiyotaka's shoulder. His blond hair was combed back, and he had green eyes.
???: [Hey, Ayanokoji. Are you heading to the cafeteria?]
Kiyotaka: [I am. Why are you asking Hashimoto? Do you need something from me?]
Hashimoto: [I thought that you should join in on the celebration back in Class?]
Kiyotaka shook his head.
Kiyotaka: [I don't see a point in attending things like that.]
Hashimoto: [The Class is waiting for you, you know. No one wants to start without you. After all, if you hadn't transferred to our class, we'd never have recovered our Class A position.]
Hashimoto: (He's the one who brought us this far. He needs to be there.)
Kiyotaka: [Very well.]
Kiyotaka said this without much resistance as Hashimoto began walking him towards Class.
As all of this is happening, can I ask a question? If a man suffers in hell for 10 years to the point he can't even feel anything and then is told he is to be given 4 years of reprieve, would he rejoice? Would he feel anything? After one year, would being given 3 years of watching other people smile, cry, shout and celebrate make him feel anything? Even if it did, would any time it happened after that truly be his true feelings or just a replication of a one-off instance?
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Kiyotaka walked into the class as several strings of confetti fired into the air.
Girls: [Yay!]
Their strings landed on Kiyotaka's head, and his face didn't show any emotion. Kiyotaka sat down on his chair, watching the people around him celebrate now that their leader had arrived. Despite them waiting for him and the warmth in their gazes towards him, there was a clear divide. A lack of understanding. They appreciated his efforts and would call him a friend. But this friendship was more of a recognition of his abilities and out of obligations. It was not genuine.
Class 3A Students: (I mean, I'm glad he came to our class since we're in Class A thanks to him, but he's a bit... weird.)
Suddenly, he felt a finger tap him on the back of the head, and he turned around to see a girl with purple hair and eyes.
Kiyotaka: [Oh, it's you. Morishita. Do you need something?]
Morishita: [I've spent this past year keeping an eye on you. You're a really rotten person.]
Kiyotaka: [What a lovely thing to say to someone who led everyone here to Class A.]
Morishita: [I am thankful, but you're methods. I don't think anyone here would say it, but... they were very cruel.]
Kiyotaka: [There was no chance for this class to regain its position otherwise.]
Morishita nods in understanding.
Morishita: [But expelling your former classmates... betraying Ichinose... we see the results, but it was... disturbing to see you do it without a hint of guilt.]
Kiyotaka: [I suppose.]
For just a second, please allow me to ask you another question. If you kidnap two people. Person A loves Person B, but Person B doesn't even consider Person A worth their time. Then you look to Person B and say [Tell me a secret Person A told you. Something damaging, and I'll let you go.] Person B would do so without guilt. It's the most logical conclusion and the best way to get through the situation without being harmed. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka『The Masterpiece Of The White Room』was a man who'd been forced to live his life under this situation since he was born. He didn't like it at first, but whether he did or didn't wasn't something that mattered. It was either this or death, so naturally, over time, guilt became a thing he was not capable of feeling.
A girl with violet eyes and long blond hair poked his arm with a smile on her face, showing clear interest in him.
???: [Are you doing alright, Ayanokoji-Kun? It looks like Morishita-San is bothering you again.]
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: [It's fine, Shiraishi. There are only a few days left to graduation, so I can put up with it.]
Shiraishi: [Do you want to join me for karaoke tomorrow? Some friends and I are throwing a celebration.]
Kiyotaka saw that a boy nearby looked displeased with this arrangement as he sighed.
Kiyotaka: [I apologise, but I can't join you. I've already made plans.]
Shiraishi: (He's still avoiding my advances. Even after so long.)
Shiraishi nods, letting go and not pushing for her way.
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Kiyotaka sits down in his seat, a cup of tea on the table, as the other person for his meeting arrives. The only issue was that he wasn't the only person that Kiyotaka had called. Kiyotaka internally contemplated it.
Kiyotaka: (She refused to see me, huh?)
A red-haired boy with orange eyes sat down.
???: [Sorry, but I couldn't convince Suzune to come out and see you.]
He seemed to have only come out to the meeting to hear what Kiyotaka had to say. Kiyotaka took a sip of his tea.
Kiyotaka: [It's fine, Sudo. I understand why she doesn't want to see me.]
Sudo: [I really don't understand any of this, man. You left our class. Joined Sakayanagi's former class. In the last exam, you expelled Shinohara, Karuizawa, Kushida and Hirata. I really don't understand why you did any of this. None of it makes sense.]
Sudo: (Why the hell did he do all this? I don't understand.)
Kiyotaka: [Suzune already understands.]
Sudo: [Do you really have the right to call her by her first name at this point?]
Sudo: (This bastard.)
Kiyotaka: [I guess not.]
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: [Rivalry and growth in the effort to reach Class A. That was the goal of my actions.]
Sudo [That doesn't make any sense!]
Kiyotaka: [It does. I wanted to see how well her class could do without me, and I saw it. You put up a better fight than I expected, but you still ended up losing to me.]
Sudo: [I don't understand. Why did Suzune even agree to face you? If we'd fought Ryuen, we'd have had a chance to get to Class A even if the chances were slim. Fighting your class...]
Kiyotaka: [Horikita and I arranged a final bet at the start of the year. If she won, I'd return to her class, and if I won, I'd become a mere part of her past and nothing else.]
Sudo: [Even after you expelled our classmates, she fought tooth and nail to bring you back, you know! It's hard for me not to punch you in the face right now.]
Sudo: (Why is that face the only one you show? No emotion. No guilt. No regret.)
Kiyotaka took another sip of his tea.
Kiyotaka: [I already understand how you feel.]
Sudo: [Then what the fuck is wrong with your face!? Show some guilt! Show some regret!]
Kiyotaka: [There would be no point in that. I planned all of this from the beginning.]
Sudo: [Don't act like that, you bastard! I saw your face when she confessed to you! I'd never seen you smile before.]
Sudo: (Even though I knew that I'd lose to you, I wanted us to give it our all. Why'd you throw it away?)
Sudo gritted his teeth and bit his lip in anger as some blood dripped from his lips.
Sudo: [Was it satisfying? Getting her to fall for you and then throwing her away?]
Kiyotaka: [You should be happy. You have every chance with her now.]
Sudo: [You say that again, and no matter how strong you are, I'll beat the shit out of you! Don't just push aside her feelings. And don't push aside your own either! Tell me, were you happy because of some sick goal, or were you really happy in that moment?]
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: [I was really happy.]
Sudo: [Then why did you transfer in the first place? Were you angry that she didn't notice how you felt?]
Kiyotaka: [Not at all. My feelings towards her don't play a role in my goals.]
Sudo: [Tell me. Do you actually love her?]
Kiyotaka: [I do.]
Sudo: [Then what the hell is wrong with you? Why do all of this?]
Kiyotaka: [I'm not able to be with her. Also, she deserves better.]
Sudo: (What is that even supposed to mean?)
Sudo sighed.
Sudo: [I don't understand anything.]
Kiyotaka: [In a way that's alright too. I called you here to say goodbye. I'm sure I'll get the chance to say goodbye to Horikita as well.]
Sudo: (Goodbye? Right. Graduation is coming up.)
Sudo: [I really don't get you. I can't understand you at all, but... things have always been this way, I just never realised. There ain't any way for me to change you, so I just gotta accept you the way you are.]
Kiyotaka: [You've grown a lot, Sudo. I doubt you'll need the graduation from Class A to achieve your dreams. I don't really think any of you will need it.]
Sudo sighed.
Sudo: (He's really the same as always. Still my bastard of a friend.)
Sudo: [Still... it would have been nice to have you with us again.]
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Kiyotaka woke up the next day and got dressed, walking out the door and heading to the graduation ceremony. That's when he saw a girl with black hair and reddish eyes waiting for him.
???: [Graduation is coming up now.]
Kiyotaka: [You'll be graduating as a member of Class 3-B. I hope you've become satisfied with that, Horikita.]
Horikita: [I have not, but I wasn't able to defeat you, so I already understand the consequence.]
Horikita: (I don't understand you. Why? Why did you even bother helping me?)
Kiyotaka: [Then the conditions for the bet have already started, so why are you interacting with me?]
Horikita's eyes had bags under them. She had spent the night coming to terms with her loss. In both the exam and the loss of her very first friend. Someone she had fallen in love with.
Horikita: [Why did you leave us? Leave me? Was I that weak that you didn't think we could graduate as Class A?]
Kiyotaka: [Not at all.]
Horikita: [Then why?]
Horikita: (Does he hate me? Is that why? To build me up and then topple me like this? As revenge? I did force him into helping, so that would make sense... but it hurts.)
Kiyotaka: [Explaining my motives to you wouldn't make a difference.]
Horikita: [Why was that the condition of the bet? Did you hate me this much?]
Kiyotaka: [Not at all. I don't hate you in the slightest.]
Horikita: [Do you love me?]
Kiyotaka: [Yeah, I do.]
Horikita gritted her teeth, grabbing his shirt.
Horikita: [Then why did you do all of this? You could be with me, but you chose this!]
Horikita: (I don't want to lose you. You were my first friend. My first love. I thought you were going to be at my side forever.)
Kiyotaka: [After graduation, there's no future that can occur between us. A relationship with you would be pointless.]
Horikita: (Pointless?!)
Horikita: [Why?!]
Kiyotaka: [I can't say.]
Horikita: [Why did you leave me?!]
Kiyotaka: [I wasn't going to waste our time in a relationship that wouldn't amount to anything.]
Horikita: [You don't know that!]
Horikita: (I understand that I didn't appreciate you enough, but you didn't even talk to me properly about it. I don't want to lose you.)
Kiyotaka: [I do know.]
Horikita: [You should have talked to me.]
The tears streamed down her face.
Horikita: (It hurts so much. I just want to be beside him right now. I don't care about Class A. Why can't you look me in the eye with any genuine emotion?!)
Horikita: [Why is it like this? You never showed any mercy. You've been cutthroat, no matter how close I got to you. Don't you care? Why don't you care about anyone other than yourself!? Why are you like this?]
They made it to the graduation hall as Horikita wiped away her tears.
Horikita: (What am I even saying? I was just as selfish.)
Horikita gritted her teeth before calming herself in resignation.
Horikita: (If it's so unforgivable to you, I understand. I won't make this mistake again. I... I'll take everything I learned from you. Everything you taught me... and move forward.)
Horikita: [I'll see you inside Ayanokoji-Kun.]
Kiyotaka: (She's moving forward as well.)
Kiyotaka nodded as she went in first. He entered after her, taking his place in the crowd with his class. He then pondered to himself about his time at Advanced Nurturing High School.
Kiyotaka: (Since coming to this school, what have I done that has actually been important? Throughout my three years here, I have manipulated and betrayed almost everyone in this school. The only worthwhile things I did were encouraging growth in a few students and being able to smile twice. In the end, I won, but it didn't stop Koenji. It just made him more committed to improving himself. Something I can't experience. The thrill of knowing there is some room to grow. I can't be normal either. It all leaves me with a singular emotion. Envy.)
???: [I love you.]
Kiyotaka: (What? Who said that?)
Kiyotaka looked around but couldn't see anyone who seemed out of place or weird.
Kiyotaka: (How strange.)
After the end of the ceremony, he left the hall.
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Kiyotaka was sleeping in his dorm room when he felt a dark embrace develop around him. It was cold yet somehow comforting.
???: [I love you.]
The feeling was so strange. He didn't understand where this voice was coming from or who it belonged to, so he focused on the voice more. The voice was sincere and warm, yet at the same time unsettling.
???: [I...]
???: [I'm waiting, Senpai. Wake up!]
Kiyotaka's eyes opened as he could hear the voice outside his door. He got up, got dressed, and opened the door to see a girl with magenta hair and a yellowish-scarlet eye colour waiting at the door.
???: [I knew something was off about you. I can't imagine you being able to stay asleep while someone is calling out your name. Are you alright?]
Ichika: (The Senpai I know wouldn't sleep in like that either.)
Kiyotaka: [Ichika...]
He rubbed his eyes.
Kiyotaka: [I'm fine.]
Ichika: [Are you sure? I saw your eyes wandering around the hall before, like you heard something even though there were no strange noises around.]
Ichika: (He seems off. I'm a bit worried.)
Kiyotaka: [I thought I heard something, is all.]
Ichika: (That's strange, but he is Ayanokoji-Senpai, so maybe he was just able to hear something I wasn't able to.)
Ichika: [Hm... I see... you'll be leaving soon, right?]
Kiyotaka nodded.
Kiyotaka: [That's right. There's no point in staying here any longer. I was planning on sleeping, packing up, and then leaving.]
Ichika: [Well then, let me help you.]
Ichika: (I don't want him to leave... Especially if he's going back there, but... there's nothing I can do.)
The two of them packed Kiyotaka's things into a suitcase. There was a reason for this. Something that he thought about in his head.
Kiyotaka: (Even if I'm not keeping any of this, it would look weird if I left without at least a suitcase.)
Ichika: [I'm not dropping out.]
Ichika: (But I want to stay here as well, because I still have a year of freedom here. After that, I'll never have anything like this again. Just like Ayanokoji-Senpai, I want to treasure and protect the two years I've spent here and the one I have left.)
Kiyotaka looked at her.
Kiyotaka: [Good. Spend your time here and enjoy it. After all, you have 1 more year here.]
He patted her on the head as she leaned in to his touch, appreciating his affection.
Kiyotaka: (Strange as it is, our relationship has become much different from before. While her feelings may be unchanged towards me, I can't help but see her as a chaotic younger sister.)
He walked outside, heading towards the car that was waiting for him. His father was in the passenger seat with the window down, waiting for him with that same look on his face.
Kiyotaka: (I'm not looking forward to returning to the White Room.)
???: [I love you.]
He turned his head, looking around him for the source of the voice.
Kiyotaka: (Nothing again. What is going on? I should have that man take me to the doctors.)
He then noticed an irritation in his eyes, so he rubbed them for a second.
???: [I love you.]
Kiyotaka: (I heard her voice again. Who is she? Where is she? Why is the irritation my eyes this bad? I had a good night's sleep after all.)
Then the sounds of carriages being drawn could be heard.
Kiyotaka: (... What is that sound?)
Kiyotaka opened his eyes slowly to see wagons drawn by reptile creatures and humans with animal ears and tails walking around. His eyes widened at this new world.
Kiyotaka: [What in the world is happening to me?]
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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