Kiyomi's Dorm Room
Kiyomi opened the door to find Suzuki outside.
"Um hey."
"Hey Kiyomi-San. Can we... discuss the exam?"
Kiyomi nodded, letting him in.
"..."
"What's wrong?"
"You decorated."
"I thought it would be okay."
The room was decorated with practicality in mind. She had bought furniture for more guests, and the room was overall a sleeker design. It was still a 180 from the barren wasteland for a room she had before, though. Suzuki took a seat as he looked around, when Kiyomi brought him some tea.
"Oh, thanks."
Kiyomi sat down across from him.
"I won't be participating in this exam."
"Huh?"
"In short your plan is to go against Ichinose right?"
Suzuki nodded.
"Then I have no intention in participating."
"Why?"
"There's no need for me to participate. Her only advantage is her ability to guide her classmates. She's a sheep. She won't engage in dirty-handed tactics and lacks the creativity for clean tactics. Honestly, if you prepare properly beating her won't be very difficult. None of her classmates are particularly outstanding either. Except perhaps Kanazaki but that's just one student other than Ichinose herself. I'm not needed."
Suzuki sighed.
"I get it. So you're really not going to participate?"
"I'm not going to."
"What if we faced off against Sakayanagi?"
"That would be a match I might be needed in but objectively it would be better if the class earned a win against Class B with their own strength. It won't be easy but with good planning and effort I'm certain you'll win."
Suzuki sighed.
'She's right but...'
"Wouldn't it be even better if we beat Class A?"
"False. I'd have to participate to make that possible. You're not capable of matching wits with her."
"..."
"No offence."
"..."
Suzuki sighed.
"You're right. I'm not that skilled in tactics so I get your point."
"Winning because I contribute won't motivate the class. It'll make them lazy."
"You're that confident you could beat her?"
"Honestly yes."
"Then prove it."
"No."
Suzuki looked dumbfounded for a second.
"Oh come on. Did you think that would work on me? Suzuki-Kun. This is a chance for you to take the center stage and earn our Class B position. Don't give it up to me. After all, I have no intention of standing out. I just want to be normal."
Suzuki looked at her closely.
'She... just wants to be normal...'
Suzuki nodded.
"I understand then. We'll face off against Class B."
Kiyomi nodded crossing her legs and sipping her tea.
"So what will you do while we face Class B?"
"I'll just be standing next to you."
Suzuki's heart skipped a beat for a second as he blushed.
"Um yeah... okay."
"Well I can't be there is person but..."
"I already understand."
He said this with a smile as Kiyomi put down her cup and walked over to the fridge.
"If you want I can make you something to eat."
'...Suddenly she's acting like my wife.'
"Um..."
'Should I just enjoy the moment?'
Suzuki thought about it for a second.
"Yeah... sure."
Kiyomi took out some pre-prepared food in containers and heated them up.
"Just a few minutes."
'Am I enjoying this a bit too much?'
Kiyomi plated the food and set it down for Suzuki.
'What the...? All of it... I've never seen these dishes before. Me of all people.'
Suzuki clasped his hands together.
"Thank you for the food."
He took a bite.
'Oh my god! This is... amazing!'
Suzuki began eating more as a faint warmth filled Kiyomi's chest.
"I'm glad your enjoying it."
"Yeah. Thanks a lot."
Suzuki ate his fill as he felt full but not bloated.
'The portion was just enough to fill me up. It's kinda scary how well she knows me.'
Kiyomi got up, got the dishes and started washing them. Suzuki got up and went to help her, trying to grab a plate when their hands touched.
"Suzuki-Kun I can do it. It's okay. Just relax."
"It's alright. Let me help."
They washed the plates together as Suzuki wiped his hands, facing Kiyomi.
"What is..."
Suzuki leaned in, kissing Kiyomi, whose eyes displayed slight surprise before she closed them, and she wrapped her arms around his body. Slowly, they parted.
"Suzuki-Kun... I don't mind if you want to take this further."
Suzuki stood stunned for a second, blushing.
'I really want to but...'
Suzuki shook his head.
'... this doesn't feel like the right time.'
"It's not time yet."
Kiyomi nodded, straightening out her clothes.
"I'll see you tomorrow then."
Suzuki nodded and stepped out of her room, clasping his mouth with his hand, blushing.
'I can't help but wonder if it would have been okay. No... she's probably unfamiliar about how things go in relationships. If I had accepted I'd just be taking advantage of her. I don't want that. She means more to me than that.'
—————————————————————————————————————
Special Annex
Suzuki and Kiyomi met with Ryuen.
"So what do I owe this pleasure Horikita? Kiyomi?"
"Are you really not planning to continue fighting?"
"Huh? My class is done. What do you expect? Aren't you the ones that crushed my Class in the first place?"
Suzuki sighed.
"You disappoint me. I thought you'd be someone I would have to face seriously in the future."
"Kuku. Sorry to disappoint you Horiktia but I don't really give a shit what a guy thinks about me."
Ryuen then looked to Kiyomi.
"So are you disappointed?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"Oh, I'm just a big fan."
"Do you want me to beat you up again?"
"Oh please. That's just make me more interested. A beautiful woman that can just kill me. That's pretty sexy."
Suzuki made an annoyed face.
"Can you not be so vulgar?"
Ryuen kuku'd as Kiyomi sighed.
"Are you planning to just disappear without another word?"
"So you are disappointed."
"It feels anticlimatic."
Ryuen sighed.
"Alright fine fine. I'll give it a bit more effort."
Ryuen smirked as he left. Suzuki turned to Kiyomi.
"Let's go."
"Um. I'm meeting someone here a bit later. I'll catch up."
Suzuki nodded, leaving.
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A While Later
Sakayanagi walked up to Kiyomi.
"The next exam."
"I have no intention of wasting my time facing off against you. If you want to face me find your own way to do so. Force me into the spot light or I'll ignore you completely."
Sakayanagi looked surprised.
"So what? Have you suddenly resolved to relegate yourself to the role of housewife knowing it's impossible?"
"Considering what you know I've been through can you blame me for wanting to be a normal girl?"
Sakayanagi sighed.
"I suppose not but I was hoping for at least one fight against you."
"What is it with people desiring conflict all the time? I don't understand why you desire it so much. Isn't the point of your brain being so complex to avoid conflicts as a way of survival? Facing conflicts over and over is so strange."
Sakayanagi sighed.
"I only wished to prove myself."
"That's a very prideful motive. Still, I understand. Since you're aiming for the top I understand your need to prove yourself but why choose such a supremacist motive? It's kind of pathetic to wish to be the best at something as vague as what you've chosen."
Sakayanagi looked annoyed.
"You..."
"If you're choosing to be the best at something shouldn't it be based on something you actually want to do instead of expectations or something like that?"
Sakayanagi paused, considering it as Kiyomi continued.
"It's a waste of time. It's a lack of self awareness over your own desires."
Kiyomi then locked eyes with Sakayanagi.
"Fighting against Ryuen. I wonder how the results will be. He has the same issue as you after all. But in the end so does Suzuki. All of you have such vague goals based on either your pride. As for Ichinose she's the worst out of all of you. She can't even take a step to decide what she wants for herself let alone taking a deeper look into her desires."
Sakayanagi pondered her words.
"You are as incredible as expected. I really want to face off against you now."
Kiyomi sighed.
"You're so hopeless."
Sakayanagi fufu'd.
"It's in human nature to have a competitive spirit."
"Yes, but it means nothing if that spirit is not directed to something specific."
Sakayanagi conceded.
"Alright. You're right. My mindset may be off the mark."
Sakayanagi sighed.
"What do I want from my life..."
Tsukishiro walked down the stairs.
"Oho. I'm the new chairman of this school. Tsukishiro Tokinari. I appear to be in the wrong building. Could you two please refer me to the Teacher's office?"
Sakayanagi looked at him.
"It appears our new chairman has a terrible sense of direction. And here Iw as thinking you found us using the cameras."
"Oho. What a strange thing to say."
Tsukishiro walked down the stairs more approaching them as Sakayanagi spoke.
"The teachers office in in another building over..."
Tsukishiro kicked her cane as she fell to the floor and then grabbed Kiyomi by the throat, pinning her to the wall.
"It seems you're not as good as I was told Ayanokoji Kiyomi-San."
Kiyomi stood there, not resisting, knowing it was pointless as Tsukishiro continued.
"I'm sure your father already told you about some challenges coming your way. That will be me."
Tsukishiro let go.
"You failed my test Kiyomi-San. I officially take office in April so let's hope you do better next time."
Tsukishiro casually walked away, humming a tune as he did.
"Are you okay Sakayanagi-San?"
Sakayanagi nodded.
"I'm okay. What about you?"
"Nothing new so I'm fine."
"That's a very disturbing thing to say."
"What about my past isn't disturbing?"
"Fair point."
"Can you manage to get back to your dorm by yourself?"
Sakayanagi nodded.
"I'll be fine. I'll ponder your words a bit more too."
With that, she left.
—————————————————————————————————————
Suzuki's Dorm
Suzuki opened the door and let Kiyomi in, and they sat down.
"I wanted to discuss the exam again."
"Go on."
Kiyomi sat down listening intently.
"I want to pick chess as an event."
"Why?"
"Because it's something that Ichinose's class will struggle with."
"Good logic but why come to me about this?"
"I want you to coach me."
"Why do you I assume I know Chess?"
"Um... ah..."
Kiyomi sighed.
"You have way too much faith in me."
"Well, I just well..."
Kiyomi shook her head.
"Very well. After all you weren't wrong and I'm okay if you want to depend on me to this degree."
Suzuki nodded as they began training.
—————————————————————————————————————
Crossing
Kiyomi met with Makoto and Tachibana.
"So. How is it going with my younger brother?"
"It's going well."
"Have you kissed yet?"
Tachibana blushed and shouted.
"President! You can't ask someone something like..."
"Yes."
Tachibana made a shocked face at her boldness as Makoto smiled.
"Very good."
"One day... I'll need you to apologise to him for me."
"Hm?"
"Just do me that favor okay?"
Makoto looked suspicious.
"I hope you're not planning to break my brother's heart."
"Not at all. I'd never plan something like that."
Makoto nodded.
"Very well."
—————————————————————————————————————
Event Selection Exam
Suzuki met with Ichinose, Sakayanagi and Ryuen.
"Ichinose-San. Are you ready to fight it out this exam for the position of Class B?"
"No hard feelings for whoever wins?"
Suzuki nodded as they shook hands.
'Whoever wins will be Class B!'
Suzuki sat down as he observed the competition.
1st Event: Chemistry
Winner: Class B (Ichinose)
Class C (0) : Class B (1)
2nd Event: Basketball
Winner: Class C (Horikita) (30-22)
Class C (1) : Class B (1)
3rd Event: Football
Winner: Class C (Horikita) (2-1)
Class C (2) : Class B (1)
4th Event: English
Winner: Class B (Ichinose)
Class C (2) : Class B (2)
Fifth Event: Maths
Winner: Class B (Ichinose)
Class C (2) : Class B (3)
Sixth Event: Piano
Suzuki sighed.
'I left it to the class to decide who would take this event but we've been pretty unlucky with all the academic events that were pulled from the hat.'
Suzuki watched as Kiyomi walked onto the stage.
'What!?'
Suzuki sighed.
'You're always there when I need you.'
His eyes and ears locked to the screen as he embraced the music she made. It was simply stunning. She played the music perfectly as if she were a robot.
'It's stunning.'
Winner: Class C (Horikita)
Class C (3) : Class B (3)
Seventh Event: Chess
Suzuki breathed in.
'It's time.'
Kanzaki and Hirata stepped up as they began playing. Hirata's performance wasn't good, to say the least. He was playing at most at the level of a 700 rating. Kanzaki however, was not much better playing at an 800 rating.
Suzuki and Ichinose, seeing the situation, both spoke up.
"I'm invoking the leader rule."
The two of them began issuing orders as Suzuki observed the board.
'Remember what Kiyomi-San taught you!'
He began taking advantage of Ichinose's non-sacrificial playstyle. As she tried to protect her higher-valued pieces, he targeted her pawns, giving his pieces more freedom.
'Wait! I made a mistake. If she changes her ways now and sacrifices her queen things could get messy.'
Ichinose however, was unable to do such a thing, so Suzuki sighed in relief. He continued the game, cornering her pieces, and even though Ichinose had managed to protect most of her more valuable pieces, only losing a rook and bishop as opposed to Suzuki, who had lost his queen and knights, he still managed to checkmate her.
Winner: Class C (Horikita)
Winner Of Exam: Class C (Horikita)
Class C (4) : Class B (3)
Suzuki sighed as he walked up to Ichinose, who looked downtrodden at her failure.
"It's over Ichinose-San."
Ichinose silently nodded.
Suzuki walked outside to find Kiyomi waiting.
"You did well."
"It was a disaster."
"Well that was because you were unlucky."
They walked together.
"Kiyomi-San. Thank you for stepping in even though you don't like to stand out."
"It's alright. Everyone already knows I'm in the music club. There's no harm in me helping out with that event."
Suzuki nodded.
—————————————————————————————————————
Homeroom
Chabashira walked to the front of the Class as Chabashira revealed the results of the exam.
Class A: -60
Class B: -30
Class C: +130
Class D: +160
'Sakayanagi lost!?'
Then he considered it.
'Did he... use Albert for the physical events?'
Suzuki contemplated it and understood.
'So he used a tactic like that.'
Class A (Sakayanagi): 991
Class B (Horikita): 757
Class C (Ichinose): 610
Class D (Ryuen): 528
Suzuki's eyes brightened at the sight as Chabashira smirked.
"Well done. Class B."
Everyone smirked at being called Class B as Suzuki smiled.
'One more step.'
He then looked at Kiyomi.
'Everything changed the day I met you. I want things to change for you too. For you tot be as happy as I am. But how do I do that?'
—————————————————————————————————————
To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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